POETRY
Macedonian Literature / Macedonian Poetry
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The Power of Love
— POEM by
Biljana Chelik
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What is the power of love?
In silence to create a voice;
In quicksand a pillar;
To make the end endless;
The conditional, the unconditional.
What is the power of love?
From crying create laughter;
Turn sadness into happiness;
The thirsty drink;
The hungry feed.
What is the power of love?
Heal their wounds;
From the ashes to be reborn;
Turn lovelessness into love;
Faith to conquer unbelief.
What is the power of love?
In the east, morning sunrise;
In the west, evening sunset.
Sky open for prayer;
Our deep roots in the earth.
….
(Self-translation from MACEDONIAN)
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Biljana Chelik
Biljana Chelik
Born in Skopje, Macedonia, Biljana Chelik is Master of law. She is a writer, poetess, founder & President of the Humanitarian Cultural PHOENIX NGO. Biljana Chelik has been writing poetry since she was only 9 and received her first prize for poetry at the age of 10. She writes patriotic, love and spiritual poetry.
Biljana Chelik has published 4 books of poetry in the Macedonian language: 1. “ЦРВЕНО ЖОЛТО ИЗГРЕЈСОНЦЕ (RED-YELLOW SUNRISE) — a collection of patriotic poetry), 2. “МОЈА МАКЕДОНИЈА” (MY MACEDONIA) — a collection of patriotic poetry, 3. “ТИ СИ МОЕТО СЕ” (YOU ARE MY EVERYTHING) — a collection of love poetry, and 4. “БИТИСУВАЊЕ ВО КОСМОСОТ” (BEING INTO COSMOS) — a collection of spiritual poetry. Moreover, her work has been translated into Turkish, Russian and French, and published in many domestic and world anthologies. Also, she has won many first prizes for her poetry, and is the winner of a special prize for the affirmation of the Macedonian language and culture. She has also received awards for culture from Macedonia, Russia, China, and Romania. Additionally, she received the most prestigious prize for poetry from the World Poetry Union in 2024.
Furthermore, she also succeeded in winning several awards from a number of NGOs for her humanitarian activities and for organizing many humanitarian actions in Macedonia and in the world. She is also an organizer of cultural events and editor of four (4) anthologies from a group of authors from all over the world. Until 2023 she was also co- founder and General Secretary of World poet’s federation and Elias Shagar Academy.
Also, Biljana Chelik organizes the world cultural festival for poetry “All together for the city of Skopje”. She is in constant communication with the Huns and Kalashis as the successors of Alexander the Great’s army in Pakistan.
Biljana Chelik’s NGO, PHOENIX has also published following books of poetry: 1) “ХЕРОИТЕ НА МАКЕДОНИЈА 1” (HEROES OF MACEDONIA – 1) — poetry from poets from around the world, 2) “ХЕРОИТЕ НА МАКЕДОНИЈА – 2” (HEROES OF MACEDONIA – 2) — poetry from poets from around the world, 3) “ПОЕЗИЈА ЗА МАКЕДОНИЈА” (POETRY FOR MACEDONIA) — poetry from poets from around the world, and 4) “27 АПРИЛ ЛЕТО ГОСПОДОВО 2017” (APRIL 27 YEAR OF GOD 2017) — poetry by poets from Macedonia.
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