The article is written by Zdravka Evtimova, after she took down what Evtimov said in the course of a long conversation with her.

Evtim EVTIMOV is one of the most famous contemporary poets in Bulgaria . His work mirrors the ups and downs of the Bulgarian spirit, his poetic voice is unique and powerful, maybe because Evtim Evtimov speaks on behalf of his people with great love, concern and forgiveness. Many of his poems have turned into popular sons that Bulgarian young people sing and know by heart. Evtim Evtimove’s poetry is much loved by Bulgarians of all generations.

Evtim Evtimov is a very shy person who rarely speaks about himself. The article below reflects the way he treats and judges his work.

EVTIM EVTIMOV ABOUT

EVTIM EVTIMOV

It is much easier for me to sit down in front of the sheet of paper and write a poem than write about myself. Furthermore, I have firmly believed that the true biography of a writer is, in fact, his work. Now, I will br eak this precious rule of mine and I will try to speak about myself. I was born on 30 October, 1933 in the town of Petrich , Bulgaria , a small picturesque settlement situated in the valley between three mountains: Belasitsa, Ograjden and Pirin. A small river flows across the town separating it into two parts. Centuries ago, the river was nicknamed Crazy Mara, and I like that name very much because I think I am like that small river. What I mean is that I am a human Crazy Mara, which in summer runs dry, but at the time of spring torrential rains it swells with energy. It is really small, but from the valley where it flows into the Struma River , it goes on and reaches the Aegean Sea . Many more rivers that are much bigger than it boast they stronger and cleverer than Crazy Mara, but instead of reaching a much more distant lands they dissipate their waters somewhere amidst the sands of wilderness and run dry for good. Unlike them, Crazy Mara, being crazy enough, never stands still; it constantly searches itself and its place in time. Just as I do.

My birth was hard trial for my mother. The midwife, seeing that something bad and inevitable was going to happen, told my grandmother Elena Yaneva that she had to sacrifice either the baby or the mother.

My mother Nedyalka understood what the woman had said although she was semi-conscious.

“Save the child and let me die,” my mother whispered.

My grandmother did not hesitate too long; she grabbed at the shoulders of the only midwife in Petrich and spoke out through her clenched teeth, “You will not get out of this room alive, if you don’t save both the baby and the mother. I want grandchildren!”

The midwife was scared out of her wits; she plucked up all her courage, did her best and I was delivered with Caesarean section. I was born with a high forehead, and when the midwife saw me she said, “That great forehead shows that one day he may become a big shot!”

“Yes, maybe you’re right,” my grandmother responded then she added, “The high forehead is a good target, you know. One can easily shoot and hit it. Let’s not br ing ill luck to him.”

I graduated from the high school in my native town, then I studied and graduated pedagogy from the Institute for teachers in elementary schools, and in the course of eight years I was a teacher in Petrich and in the villages of Petrich district. Those were the happiest years in my life, and perhaps at that time the poet was born in my heart. I wrote my first poem when I was sixteen –I was student in the ninth grade. Of course, it was dedicated to my first love. My poem “The lands of the Pirin Mountain ” was the first one published in the central district newspaper “Pirinsko Delo” (1951). That publication exhilarated me, I had never been so happy in my whole life. My first poetry collection “Wakeful Eyelids” was published in 1959. I believe it was the beginning of a road I still follow. I do not know where it will lead me, but I have never given it up and never will as long as I br eathe.

In 1996, I moved to Sofia , the capital of Bulgaria . I was assistant editor in chief of Plamak literary magazine in the course of ten years; I worked as a managing director of Youth Publishing House, I was Editor in Chief of “Literaturen Front” literary newspaper for five years, I was Editor in Chief of “Rodolubie” literary magazine for five years, and since three years I have been working as Editor in Chief of “New Pulse” literary newspaper.

More than thirty books of mine have been published so far; in fact they are twice as much for many of them had several editions.

Most of my books are composed of love poems: “Bitter Wine”, “Love for Love”, “Nights”, “Golden Specter”, “Wine and Love”, “Ladies Kissed by God” etc. I am fond of and I very often use the magic of Bulgarian rites and rituals, I have even written and published a book called “Ritual Songs”. I wrote sonnets as well, and I collected them in my book “Mountain”. My poetry collection “Ballads of the Pirin Mountain ” was reprinted a dozen times and is very popular, I guess because it was dedicated to the struggle against fascism in Bulgaria .

A number of my poems have been translated and published in Greece , UK , Poland , USA , India , Turkey , Russia etc.

I have won numerous national and international poetry awards. I have participated in a number of international forums dedicated to poetry.

I go on writing poetry because in my opinion poetry is love and love is poetry. Maybe somebody would disagree with what I say about myself, but I go on believing I look like myself: liked or disliked I would like to remain Evtim Evtimov. Some people in Bulgaria told me that my lyrics were not love poems but an autonomous sort of poetry.

If this is true then I have achieved something not only for myself, but for my people as well.

If I have failed then I will go on walking along my road, searching for myself.

Now, I am subordinated only to the Chancellery of Heaven. I hope that the guys there know about my only request: to give me a little more time to go on writing poems.

May this come true!

8 March, 2004 , Sofia

Bulgaria