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Paul Donelly

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Review

Poets of Bulgaria, Ed. William Meredith, Forest Books. £6.95

One of the things I look for, and find most satisfying, in translated poetry is the feeling that I am reading something new, something that could only have been written from another cultural and linguistic perspective. The skills of the translator, as well as the original poet, deserve credit when this occurs, and it occurs frequently in this set.

     There are 24 Bulgarian poets translated by 13 Americans and, as you’d expect, there is a wide variety of style and subject matter. Right at the start is Elisaveta Bagriana, the oldest (b. 1893) and one of the most exuberant poets, as her poems ‘The Elements’ and ‘Descendant’ demonstrate. They are full of a youthful and rebellious spirit, sometimes recalling Tsvetayeva. Her rhythms are powerful and convey an affirming, resilient presence.

     Blaga Dimitrova is also a memorable voice, especially in the shifting identities of a mother/daughter relationship in ‘Lullaby for my Mother’. Compassionate and tender, it is a fine restrained poem. Elsewhere she builds a poignant, disturbing scenario in the anti-war poem, ‘The Water Buffalo (Hanoi 1972)’. Equally disturbing is Stefan Tsanev’s ‘Strange Bird’,

I can’t get out of my mind the thought
that if birds
have started hanging themselves
something is wrong on this earth

Altogether it is a compelling collection of voices speaking with authenticity and a love of their country. It is diverse but cohesive and is well worth seeking out.

 

Page(s) 63

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