I would like to thank Angela Kosta for translating three of my poems into Italian and Albanian. I have fallen behind on reblogging all the publications of the poems in those languages. They’ve made the rounds in various online and print magazines abroad. Angela has an amazing repertoire of venues she publishes in, and I notice she has won many awards and honors. I am truly humbled by her generosity.
Yesterday she informed me of other publications of two of my poems, “Erosion” and “Farewell, My Flower” in an Albanian anthology. I would like to cut and paste the book promo for this anthology published on Facebook. My gratitude also extends to Tamikio L. Dooley, Irma Kurti, and Dibran Fylli.
ORFEU magazine just published in AMERICA POETIC ANTHOLOGY – 2 – “THE VERSE WICKED”, which readers will already have in their hands. This is another meeting with poetry after the publication of the first Poetic Anthology. The publication of this book is the fruit of the initiative and dedication of the Director and Editor-in-Chief of the literary, cultural and artistic magazine “Orpheus”, Dibran Fylli in collaboration with the staff, in selecting verses of various authors. 35 poets were presented, 23 of whom from the Albanian and diaspora space and 12 international poets translated into Albanian by Irma Kurti and Angela Kosta.
ORFEU has long opened its doors to creators from all over the world, enriching the magazine’s pages every day with the presence of new and well-known authors on a national and international scale. As such it is sought and read with pleasure not only by the published authors, but by all those who love poetry. Like an exhibition of colorful artworks, in this poetic compilation a variety of themes, styles, individuality are unfolded by creators with a diverse literary and life baggage, special and unique.
Writing poetry on a piece of paper is not just a matter of passion or hobby. Poetry seeks to penetrate into the darkest depths of the human soul, revealing those feelings, emotions, suffering or struggles, which are not at all easy to decipher or name. Poetry often becomes our inner voice, the best therapy to alleviate pain and suffering, to dissolve longing and nostalgia, which are companions in the literary journey.
The Lebanese poet and philosopher Khalil Gibran on the power of poetry puts it like this: “Poetry is the salvation /after which I crumble /when everything seems to be coming…”
The themes that prevail in this Anthology are diverse: Longing for the homeland, love in the universal sense of the word, the desire for peace and quiet, which suddenly transforms into a cry of revolt and despair in this crazy and turbulent time, where the voice of poetry happens not to be heard in a daily day filled with politics, chaos, war and destruction. The verses reflect the poets’ free and peaceful spirit in solitude moments of meditation, always seeking strong and autochthonous feelings, seeking a better world away from violence, cruelty and misery. They reveal also the deepest emotions and the most beautiful sensations, joys clad with melancholy, like raindrops that remind you of a distant or lost love. Poems mirror the range of sensations once delicate and strong, beautiful and elusive of the human spirit, in particular the poetic one. Because as the French writer Victor Hugo expresses in his work “The Miserable”: “There is a spectacle greater than the sea, and that is the sky, there is a spectacle bigger than the sky, and that is inwardness of a soul. “
Reading the poems of Anthology you can touch your hand and feel the magic of writing. Poetry does not divide, it unites, inter-tone connecting bridges and communication, overcoming barriers, borders, regardless of language, traditions, habits, thus obtaining a universal character.
The Poetic Anthology “Verse Flows” is evidence of this. Reading the verses seems as if you are traveling to nearby and distant places getting to know creators from different Albanian or emigration, who have left the homeland, without ever leaving it, singing gold and immortalizing memories in their verses. You are also familiar with internationally renowned poets or publishers such as Stanley H. Barkan, Francesca Gallello, Massimo Massa e Maria Grazia Vai and understands that what unites all poets, regardless of location, experience, topics addressed is poetry itself… ( By Irma Kurti )
We thank with great gratitude the Publisher Author Tamikio L Dooley for its immediate availability.
The anthology is sold in: Italy, France, Germany, Holland, USA, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, India, China, Brazil, Japan, Spain, Canada, Mexico, etc…
Congratulations and success to all NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AUTHORS
- Ana Korça
- Barbara H. Leonhard
- Bilall Maliqi
- Bukurie Maloku
- Brixhilda Dede
- Dardan Berisha
- Francesca Gallello
- Ganimete Jakupi
- Gjelina Maçi
- Halil Xani
- Hysen Berisha
- Ildije Xhemali
- Ismet Krasniqi
- Ismet Miftari
- Jyotumaya Thakur
- Juli Sono
- Laura Ficco
- Llesh Gjoka
- Majlinda Kryeziu
- Maria Grazia Vai
- Marigona Zekaj
- Marisa Ashiku
- Marjeta Shatro
- Massimo Massa
- Meri Bo
- Mimoza Rexhvelaj
- Nasir Aijaz
- Ann Marie Hansraj
- Sofia Skleida
- Skënder Lazaj
- Stanley H. Barkan
- Shailesh Gupta Veer
- Trandafile Molla
- Ubaidullo Sanginov
- Vjollca Aliu
PURCHASE LINK ON LULU
MY POEMS IN ALBANIAN
ENGLISH VERSIONS
Erosion
A garden once planted in spring,
bearing life in shade and sun,
now tangled with weeds and blight.
A hearty yield once sustained
by dew and noon rains,
now forgets in autumn light.
Basket of Gold, having bloomed
and stretched for sun,
now shrivels, scorched by drought.
Honeysuckle, a trespasser in flora,
once nurtured monarchs
and bees.
Once a bounty of bliss,
now wild bramble
on depleted soil.
Wisdom of soils and seedlings,
now crumbles to dust.
Her secret garden.
🌹Farewell, My Flower 🌹
How short
was your stay!
I took you for granted. Promised
I would stop by
more often.
I was too caught up
in my mindless days
to sit with you in your garden.
Your lush blooms
made the sun smile.
Your poise.
Your grace. Holy gifts.
Even when the snow
surprised us all,
you held your back up.
Your crown, never drooping.
Your resilience
tricked me
into complacency.
Still, you danced.
Until your beauty
crumbled
into the beds of periwinkle
huddled
to catch you.
Until the breeze
gently blew
your ash
into soil.
These two poems are from my best-selling poetry collection: Three-Penny Memories: A Poetic Memoir.
Extraordinary Sunshine Weaver 
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