Nikola Jonkov Vapcarov

The macedonian poet Nikola Jonkov Vapcarov was born in Bansko, Pirin Macedonia in 1909. He finished his primary education in Bansko, and after finishing high school in Razlog, he went to Varna, where he attended a naval-machinery school. After finishing his studies he was employed as a machinist on a ship, and later he was employed in a paper factory, but soon quit his work because of his active political activities.

Ever since he was a student, Vapcarov was a member of the revolutionary movement, actively fighting against the Fascism. He was also an active poet. In 1942, Vapcarov, as well as Anton Popov, were discovered and arrested, and later shot to death together in Sofia.

Vapcarov was a member of the Macedonian Literary Circle that was active in Sofia. Some other members of the Circle were Anton Popov, Gorgi Abadjiev, Kole Nedelkovski, Dimitar Mitrev, and others.

Vapcarov wrote two collectioons of poetry Motorni pesni and Prolet, among which the most famous songs are Spomen, Zemja, Pesna za covekot, Prolet, and others.

Vapcarov's deep hatred towards the world of exploatation and wars and his belief in the victory of the macedonian people gave him an important place in the macedonian history and literature.

Zemja

 

Ovaa zemja,
     po koja cekoram denes,
ovaa zemja
     koja ja budi veter od mugra,
ovaa zemja
     ne e moja - ne,
ovaa zemja
     prostete, e tuga.
V zora trgam.
     Po fabricen drum
bezbrojnite
     rubaski
     minat.
Nie sme sleanu so srce,
     so um,
no...ne moja nea ja cinam.

Nad mojata zemja
     v prolet
     zraci
     seat
     sjaj
i grmat vodopadi
     od sonce
     nad roden mi
     kraj.
Ti custvuvas dlabocina,
     srceto v zemjina grad,
i gledas cvetok mlad
     skokum kaj rasne maj.
Nad mojata zemja
     v neboto
     opira
     Pirin.
Oblacite v bura
     ilindenski praznik peat,
     ohridskiot lazur e
     beskrajno sin i shiren,
a nadolu uste
     izgrejsonce Egej go gree.
Spomnam li samo -
     i naednas krv blika pak
vo srceto, koe
     se topi od nekakva neznost...
Kraju moj drag! Kraju moj prekrasen drag!...
Poen so krv
     i lulan
     v metezhi teski.


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