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The authors of the first verses written in Macedonian
language, which are only historically valuable, are
Kiril Pejčinović
and
Yordan Hadzi Konstantinov - Dzinot. Nevertheless, Konstantin
(Constantine) Miladinov is considered to
have been founder of the Macedonian artistic poetry, because his verses besides
historical, have an artistic value as well.
Konstantin Miladinov was born in
Struga, in 1830, where he first started his education.
Later he went to study in Ioaninna (a city in Greece), and graduated philology in Athens. He
had worked as a teacher for a short period and then left to Russia where he
began with his studies. He edited the materials for "Zbornik na narodni
umotvorenija - The Collection of Folk Songs, Riddles and Costumes",
collected by his brother Dimitar Miladinov.
"Konstantin Miladinov"
He left Russia because of the cold weather. He published
"Zbornik na narodni umotvorenija - The Collection of Folk Songs, Riddles
and Costumes", supported by Josip Juraj Shtrosmaer, one of the patrons of
the Slavonic literature. Arriving in Belgrade, he found out that his brother
Dimitar had been imprisoned in Istanbul (Carigrad). He immediately went there,
but he was reached by the same destiny as his brothers. Even though Shtrosmaer
did everything in his power, to help them, they both died in the prison, first
Konstantin, and two days later his brother Dimitar Miladinov.
He wrote only 15 songs, among which "Bisera",
"T'ga za Jug", "Zelanie", "Golapche", and others.
"Bisera", one of his most beautiful love songs is written in the
spirit of the folk poetry. However, Konstantin Miladinov's most emotional and
beatiful songs is "T'ga za jug - Longing for the south", written while
he was staying in Russia. At that time he had already been ill, dissappointed
and obsessed by the desire to come back in his native country.
Konstantin Miladinov is especially important for the
Macedonian literature and history. He supported his brother in collecting folk
songs and published their most essential work in the Macedonian literature -
"Zbornik na narodni umotvorenija - The Collection of Folk Songs, Riddles
and Costumes". Besides that, he is considered to have been founder of the
Macedonian art poetry. He succeeded to create poetry, original in spirit and
form. Thence all the anthologies of the Macedonian literature begin with his
verses. All his verses, especially the song "T'ga za jug" have been
translated in many language.
Every year, in his and his brother Dimitar's honor, in their
native town, one of the biggest poetry festivals in the world is held - Struga
Poetry Evenings, in which poets all around the world take part. |
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Longing for the south (T'ga za jug) |
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If I had an eagle's wings
I would rise and fly on them
To our shores, to our own parts,
To See Stambol, to See Kuku;
And to watch the sunrise: is it
Dim there too, as it is here?
If the sun still rises dimly,
If it meets me there as here,
I'll prepare for further travels,
I shall flee to other shores
Where the sunrise, greets me brightly,
And the sky is sewn with the stars.
It is dark here, dark surrounds
me,
Dark for covers all the earth,
Here are frost and snow and ashes,
Blizzards and harsh winds abound,
Fogs all around, the earth is ice,
And in the breast are cold, dark thoughts.
No, I cannot stay here, no;
I cannot upon this frosts.
Give me wings and I will don them;
I will fly to our own shores,
Go once more to our own places,
Go to Ohrid and to Struga.
There the sunrise warms the soul,
The sun gets bright in mountain woods:
Younder gifts in great profusion
Richly spread by nature's power.
See the clear lake stretching white-
Or bluely darkened by the wind,
Look you at the plains or mountains:
Beauty' everywhere divine.
To pipe there to my heart's
content!
Ah ! let the sun set, let me die. |
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