I can find absolutely no information on the above picture, but it tells a good story, and so seems appropriate...

Again, there's lots to be explored on the Macedonian writing scene (there are introductions here and here).

And in Skopje there's no shortage of people writing (as indeed there's no shortage of people doing most things):


Specifically, however, there are three things to mention:

1. A fascinating travelogue by Matthew Stevenson entitled A Macedonian Ramble

Here's the first instalment (of 15), chronicling "a journey across what used to be called Macedonia, which is now divided among Albania, North Macedonia, Greece, and Turkey". It's a good read in itself, as it covers a lot of the ground we have traversed/will traverse. And it also includes a heap of suggestions on other interesting things to read.

2. Koco Racin (1908-1943)

He's sometimes spelt Kocho (which is how his name sounds), but this is actually his pen name. He was born Kosta Apostolov Solev, in Veles, to a family too poor to allow him much in the way of secondary education. Yet he became an activist and writer, and is variously described as the initiator of Macedonia's post-war literary scene, and "one of the most important Macedonian poets". His life ended tragically, in circumstances still not entirely clear, when he was killed by a guard at the age of just 34.


One or two of his poems are published in English translation here, including the sadly beautiful Tobacco Gatherers:

On cold scales with bronze they weigh it --
but can they gauge its weight --
our tobacco, our troubles,
our salty sweat!

From the dark dim dawns of summer mornings
up to the godless time of winter evenings
greedily it drinks of our sorrow,
our sweat, our blood and our strength.
The yellow-gold makes faces pale
and brings a yellow guest into our breast.

On dew-laden mornings in the first dawn
bowed low in the fields of the place where we were born
listlessly we gather it in.
Pick leaf by leaf
string leaf by leaf
turn leaf by leaf over and press down,
line leaf by leaf gently, sadly
on the long string of beads of sweat
hope with an oath and green fury
with hard stares from cloudy eyes
at the soft leaves all yellow gold
a bitter tale of a life accursed
string on so, soundlessly but clear.
Don’t you know this?

The day is come for the weighing-up.
There is no gauge meet, it burrows in the breast
without ceasing, without finding its level
not grief but an oath, and in the clouded eyes
unsummoned rises the tempest.

The scales bear golden leaves
while in the breast rage furious waves
of golden grief, of golden tobacco
of the golden sweat of our hands.


There are more translations of Racin's poems here.


3. Aco Sopov (1923-82)

Another influential Macedonian poet, his life was marked by tragedy (the severe illness of his mother when he was only young, and the death in battle of his beloved, Vera Jocic). He fought with the Partisans himself, but continued to write poetry. After the war his career initially entered turbulence: "Because he refused to abide by the official rules of art, Sopov was first blasted by the official literary criticism in the 1950s, and then also unanimously recognized, several years later." He worked in journalism and publishing, and also had a spell as Yugoslav ambassador to Senegal (he translated into Macedonian some of the work of Senegalese president/poet Leopold Sedar Senghor). He died in Skopje.

This site has information about him, plus a number of translations of his poems (although there are more in French and German than in English).

As I say so often, this is all very interesting...