The most beloved Macedonian poem, written by Konstantin Miladinov (1830-1862) while studying in Russia. The poem tells of a romantic longing for his homeland. After leaving Russia, he made a detour through Istanbul to assist his brother, Dimitar, who had been arrested by Turkish authorities. Konstantin was arrested as well, and the two died tragically in prison one after the other in 1862.
LONGING FOR THE SOUTH
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 Kukus,
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 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 sit upon this frost.
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:
Yonder gifts in great profusion
Richly spread by nature’s power.
See the clear lake stretching white-
Or bluely darkened by the wind,
Look at the plains or mountains:
Beauty everywhere divine.
To pipe there to my heart’s content.
Ah! Let the sun set, let me die.
What do you think of the poem?
