Roman Kissiov, Bulgaria
The Poems
MYSTERY
This spring, the birds did not come back from the south.
The trees did not bloom.
There are only vultures perched on branches.
Vultures have perched –
on house balconies,
on boulevards, at cafes,
on benches, on cars,
at bus stops,
at children's playgrounds, in gardens…
Vultures, vultures perched…
They are standing, waiting.
Waiting, standing.
Vultures have perched…
And only here and there,
only at places – behind a corner
or behind a door ajar –
slightly showing are
angel wings.
(Translated by Ralitsa Saramova)
*
МИСТЕРИЯ
Тази пролет птиците не се завърнаха от юг.
Не разцъфнаха дърветата.
Само лешояди са накацали по клоните.
Лешояди са накацали –
по балконите на къщите,
по булевардите, по кафенетата,
по пейките, по автомобилите,
по спирките,
по детските площадки, по градините…
Лешояди, лешояди са накацали…
Стоят и чакат.
Чакат и стоят.
Лешояди са накацали…
И само тук-таме,
и само някъде – зад някой ъгъл
или зад открехната врата –
леко се подават
ангелски крила.
* * *
THE POET CAN
They said:
A poet cannot feed a family
They said:
A poet can feed
Only the worms…
O, no –
The poet feeds the pigeons
The poet feeds the eagles
The poet feeds the angels
The poet feeds the hearts –
the hearts of people
still hungry
for Truth and Light…
The poet can feed thousands
with but five verses
(Translated by Ralitsa Saramova)
*
ПОЕТЪТ МОЖЕ
Казаха:
Поет къща не храни
Казаха:
Поетът може само
червеите да нахрани…
О, не –
Поетът гълъбите храни
Поетът орлите храни
Поетът ангелите храни
Поетът сърцата храни –
сърцата на хората
които все още са гладни
за Истина и Светлина…
Поетът може
със пет стиха
хиляди да нахрани
The Poet
Roman Kissiov was born in 1962 in the town of Kazanlak, Bulgaria. Poet, translator of poetry, artist. He graduated in painting from the National Academy of Fine Arts in Sofia. He lives and works in Sofia. Poems by Roman Kissiov have been published in almost all Bulgarian literary editions, they have been broadcast over the Bulgarian National Television and the Bulgarian National Radio. His works have been included in poetry anthologies in Bulgaria, Italy, Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Armenia, Jordan, India, and in the international anthology of English POETS FOR WORLD PEACE (Switzerland, Canada, 2011). His poems have been translated and published in 22 languages. He is the author of 10 poetry books in his homeland and 8 books in other languages in different countries. Roman Kissiov has taken part in many international poetry festivals.