POETRY
Serbian Literature / Serbian Poetry
___________
WALK
— POEM by
Bratislav Todorović
___________
The chandelier in the room;
A witness of time;
Speaks softly and warns…
I bought it on the day;
The Prime Minister was assassinated.
The messenger who told me;
That he is no longer alive.
The city where it happened;
Has long ceased to be mine.
The fate that was sealed that day;
Still trembles in the air.
Uncertainty still rules;
As I gaze at the witness;
The chandelier with three bulbs;
Which no one
Has turned on in a long time.
….
(Self-translation from Serbian)
::::
Bratislav Todorović
Bratislav (Leskovac, 1972) is a poet, short story writer, and novelist. So far, he has published the poetry collections: Rhapsody of Youth (1995); The Map of Life (2006); and Kaleidoscope of Time (2015); as well as a collection of short stories: A Sleepless Night’s Dream (1999/2007). Moreover, story collections: The Murder of Meaning (2004) and Life’s Journey (2023). Also, novels: In the Shadow of Time (2002), Love in Lisbon (2012); and, Conversation with the Mirror (2020). He has a children’s story collection: A Strange Childhood and Other Stories (2022), as well. Additionally, his work has been published in numerous magazines, anthologies, and online platforms, and he is represented in literary lexicons and anthologies. Furthermore, he is also a member of the Leskovac Writers’ Association and several literary clubs in Leskovac and Belgrade.
Todorović is the editor-in-chief of the literary magazine Crnjanski Scene (Belgrade). He was also formerly editor-in-chief of the literary, art, and culture magazine POMAK (Leskovac), as well as the secretary of the literary club “Glubočica” in Leskovac. Currently, he serves as president of the literary club “Ivo Andrić” in Zemun.