Canadian Macedonian Heritage Society

Poetry

Poetry

The role and function of Macedonian poetry in Canada represents the most direct way of expressing the spirit of the old world surrounded by the conditions faced in the new world. This genesis began over 100 years ago as the first Macedonians began migrating to Canada. The historical circumstances developed a truly Canadian Macedonian poetic narrative which the Canadian Macedonian Heritage Society presents to you the reader. The selected poems are just a sample of some of the works of Canadian citizens of Macedonian descent.

Spero Thompson is a colleague and contributing writer of the Brachi Miladinovci Macedonian Poetry and Literary Society of Saint Clement of Ohrid Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral in Toronto, Ontario.

Patsy Sider-Aspassia Bossota is the author of five poetry books entitled "Diary of a Soul (1998)", "A Spark from the Ashes (1998)", "Between Two Worlds (2000)", "The Joy of Justice (2003)", "Prohibited Culture (2006)", a book of Short Stories entitled "Amazing Garden"(2009) and author of many other poems and short stories. Poems from "Between Two Worlds" are presented for your reading.

They are following in the footsteps of the first representatives of modern Macedonian literature at the beginning of the 19th century. These include, Joakim Krcovski, Kiril Pejcinovik, Dimitar and Konstantin Miladinov, Grigor Prlicev, and Rajko Zinzifov. It was further developed in the 20th century by Vojdan Cernodrinski, Nikola Kirov - Majski and Atanas Razdolov. Then the development of Macedonian Literature continued with Koco Racin, who is considered to be the founder of modern Macedonian literature.

The first post-war generation of Macedonian poets, include Blaze Koneski, Aco Sopov, Slavko Janevski, Vlado Maleski and Kole Casule. The new generation of Macedonian writers appeared in the early 1950s, encompassing among others Gane Todorovski, Mateja Matevski, Dimitar Solev, Ante Popovski, Boris Visinski and Simon Drakul. They were followed by, Zivko Cingo, Petre M. Andreevski, Radovan Pavlovski, Jovan Koteski and many others.

 

Poetry
SPIRIT OF MOTHER MACEDONIA
Dear patriotic spirit and Mother of the people Many children emigrated from you with deep regrets To their new lands, languages and hope No matter distance; it's Mother no child ever forgets. With song you nourish your peoples soul As when you sang at Ilinden That day the Narod rose up to say We are not Bulgars, Greek or Serb, we are Macedonian Mother Macedonia sweet singer of song Please sing us a song for today You sang to the ...
Poetry
MACEDONIAN GIRL... CANADIAN WOMAN
Robed Macedonian priest Swinging smoking censer, heavy incensed air Harmonic and familiar, two part Macedonian Orthodox funeral song. We are gathered to lie to rest Cousin Sophie Who lived well and lived long. Born in Oshchima, Macedonia Land of her Fathers Rich in history and Christian culture Leaving the Balkans to which turmoil relates. To Canada and a new life with promise This young girl and family did immigrate. A new language, city, not village life The making of new ...
Poetry
MACEDONIAN ROOTS IN CANADIAN SOIL

Canada, you are indeed a land of multi-cultural Immigrants Many people heard your call and they came Macedonians leave their beloved homeland Your promise of hope and freedom they come to claim. You invite them, come people from Aegean, Pirrin, Vardar Come; join other new life seeking peoples Leave Macedonia, as children will one day leave home Come; build families, homes, businesses, Churches with steeples. You counsel them, embrace me and I will embrace you Nothing will be given to ...