Adaptation, or the Art of the Possible

This poet* of Varna (The Black Sea)
Hopes that his fine words can be
Adapted to the English tongue;
I tried my best – and it was fun!

How can a metaphor be wrought?
Can thoughts behind the words be caught?
Each language has its own restraints
Each poet uses his own paints...

To see oneself in print again
Is for a writer – the fast lane
The thrill sends shivers to the core
Now the spark will burn on distant shore ...

Such was my happy fate today
Yonko Yonkov's bound oeuvre came my way:
Neat gem edition - blue on white
Artistic woman bathed in light ...

Twenty-one moments penned with care
Dedications from a soul laid bare
«'Twixt Earth and Sky»'s emotive lines
The natural world in poignant rhymes.

Images succinct with feeling
Human lives are so revealing!
Nostalgia, fear, love and regret:
Odes to treasure and collect.

(c) Poet in the woods 2019



"'Twixt Earth and Sky" by *Yonko Yonkov - published in Varna, Bulgaria - February 2019

English adaptation by Jivka Ganeva and poems in English by Poet in the Woods.

From Blogger to Published Poet

This feeling of elation is not easy to describe
I'm on such a high that it's great to be alive.
An ambition I have cherished since I was under ten
Has now been accomplished - I'm thrilled – I can't be Zen!

I've always written poems since I learned June rhymed with moon
My love affair with language brought me recognition soon
A competition followed – I saw myself in print
My poem got me second prize and maybe was a hint

That this was my way forward as I love the written word
I played around with rhyme schemes and a batch of odes occurred
I used to hand write all my work – I now compose on screen
The keyboard now interprets all the words that come on stream.

I never know what thoughts will come as I sit down to write
It could be a chance remark that sets my muse alight
But now my blog is buzzing - I have «hits» from near and far
I've published my first book and hitched my wagon to a star!

(c) Poet in the woods 2014

"A Turn in the Road" by Sarah Strange is available on Amazon.com
I am also in several other Brussels anthologies
and "Ttwixt Earth and Sky" - 21 poems by Yonko Yonkov - translated from the Bulgarian

Expanding Horizons - May 1st, 2004

The first of May. Another day?
But no - we go
From 15 to 25 at one go.
The Union opens up its gates
To ex Iron Curtain States.
The world is turned upon its head
These politicians make their bed
It's now too late to change the sheets
Let's hope new partners' sleep is sweet.
Fireworks, hot air balloons, parades
What's done is done and memory fades
We've half of Cyprus - is that wise?
Hungary and Latvia - no surprise.
And valiant Malta with George Cross;
Slovakia's also won the toss.
Catholic Poland, Lithuania
Still on the list - Romania*.
The Czech Republic: "Welcome Prague!"
Say Ljubljana - it is hard.
Slovenia, you're not on your own-ia
We must not forget Estonia.
That wraps it up - but what a laugh
I make it twenty-four and a half!

(c) Poet in the woods 2013

* Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU on Jan 1st, 2007.

BREXIT! Great Britain left the EU on January 1st, 2021