On the Sand They Remain

On the sand they remain –
the birds’ steps.

The sea murmurs
deadened
before the night moon
falls.
The life which
has left us
we exchanged
for
the sand.
And how refined
the grit
is scattered.
You cannot
gather it
in a hollow of a hand.

On the sand they remain –
the birds’ traces

Bozhidar Pangelov, born in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 1959, is a contemporary Bulgarian poet. His penname “bogpan” (“god Pan”) is taken from the Greek mythology. He started writing poetry at the age of sixteen and published his first works in 2002. Author’s first book Four Cycles (2005) written in cooperation with Vanya Konstantinova, was fully based on motifs from Hellenic legends and myths. His next books were Delta (2005), The Girl Who… (2008) and The Man Who… (2013). The bilingual book in Bulgarian and English A Feather of Fujiama (2014) was published by Hammer & Anvil Books in Amazon.com as a kindle edition. His poems are translated in Italian, German, Polish, Russian, Chinese, English and Turkish languages and are published on poetry sites as well as in anthologies and literary periodicals all over the world. He in his turn translates poetry from Russian to Bulgarian. Bozhidar Pangelov participates in the German project “Europe … takes. Europa ein Gedicht. Castrop Rauxel ein Gedicht, Ruhr 2010), and the project “Spring Poetry Rain” (Cyprus, 2012). Now he lives and works in Sofia City.

Jennifer Matthews’ poetry has been published in Nepal by Pen Himalaya and locally by the Wilderness Retreat Writers Organization, Midway Journal, The Somerville Times, Ibbetson Street Press and Boston Girl Guide. Jennifer was nominated for a poetry award by the Cambridge Arts Council for her book of Poetry Fairy Tales and Misdemeanors. Her songs have been released nationally and internationally and her photography has been used as covers for a number of Ibbetson Street Press poetry books and has been exhibited at The Middle East Restaurant, 1369 Coffeehouses, Sound Bites Restaurant in Somerville and McLean Hospital.