Instead of an Introduction

Book: Conversations with the Saviour (en)

My poems reflect another side of my creative nature. I have written poetry since I was a child, and, in fact, my very first set of poems came to me when I was eight years old – I still recall illustrating this anthology and undersigning my name as poet and artist as well: a true honour... The poetic spirit has remained with me always, and on some occasions, whether from the happiness of being among friends or in special moments of life, I pour my artistic inspiration into the written medium as well. My poems have an important place in my oeuvre, not least because they treat many of the same themes and ideas that appear in my paintings.

In the past I have written poetry in both English and Bulgarian, and have also translated some poems back and forth between the two languages, with greater or lesser success (some poems are simply untranslatable!). Naturally, English is not my first language, and it may not be surprising if there are more unusual turns of speech in some of my English poems, which simply came to me like that, this is how I "heard" them. But, in any case, to my own surprise, they still manage to rival the joyful and wholesome qualities that have made my poems in Bulgarian a delight to many readers.

My poetry has generally appeared in bursts of activity – most of my poems (disregarding the early poems of childhood and adolescence, interesting in their own right, but not included on this site) were written in the mid 1990's and between 2005 and 2007. In placing a selection of poems on this site (both original English-language ones and several translations from my poems in Bulgarian), I not only wish to present a complementary side of my work, but, at the same time, to give joy and wholesomeness to an English-speaking readership as well, which, I hope, will also find something to delight in!

Autumn 1 And so, it is autumn again and again the leaves are falling. The black profiles of the fig trees joyfully drink dew in the morning. All the longings and the beliefs of the past childhoods's dreams are covered with rustling leaves and dissolve into silence and peace... It is autumn again and the spider from silver knitted a thread in my hair and, frightened, he left for his silvery net.
Annael (Anelia Pavlova)
Autumn 2 The illusions sway like Japanese lanterns, green from fear. They slowly crumble and slowly disappear... The red lips of the dawn touch festively the beginning of a song, so beautiful and profound – to Heaven only it belongs. The leaves swing like Japanese lanterns, yellow from sorrow. By the warm memory of spring they are unceasingly followed...
Annael (Anelia Pavlova)
Impression At the end of the summer, the trees are burning autumnally and leaves are falling – one by one, Like candles, extinguished somberly from the kisses of а warm and gentle Sun...
Annael (Anelia Pavlova)
Ode to the Dew Drops Beautiful Being of the dew drops, you mirror yourself in the rainbow, dancing with the wind, who praises you. Every blade of the grass warmly embraces you. Those green grass tongues – trembling and thirsty, drinking your colours at once. The white clouds breathe your freshness like big white lungs. Sparkling among the flowers, leaving its lacy garment after the night’s autumn shower – you, innocent child of the dawn! You are born every morning slowly to midday ascending; Heaven is your home – I know it whose love letters you are unceasingly sending.
Annael (Anelia Pavlova)
Path of Light I shall follow the path to my Father of Light – decisively said the grain of wheat. Rotting in the soil is just a process – it added with a smile – a painful one, but very thoughtful; deserves to be experienced and seen. I shall follow the Wind – quietly whispered the sprout in green – as the Wind knows where it comes from and where it goes. I shall follow the little bee – it builds sweetness from dust. All the colours, the flowers, and trees are its lovers – from the past. I shall follow the bright butterfly – the transformed modest worm. Like stars my thoughts shine and swing through dark and restless nights, and fill the space with eyes – the eyes on the butterflys's wings... I shall follow the Light.
Annael (Anelia Pavlova)
Seasons A tree with leaves like crystal drops in yellow, gold and crimson; they ring and sing with a quite voice the song of autumns's wisdom. A poet walking slowly with careful steps would pass; and after him, like whispers – falling the leaves transform themselves to dust... And then again the spring is smiling with clouds, flowers and trees; the summer fruits are sweet and ripened, in silence shaping their seeds. And yesterday begets tomorrow, but nothing is the same, alas... The leaves are new – without sorrow the poet comes and walks on grass. The time is gone and disappears in a triangle filled with light. Through all the sounds of the Spheres the Seasons roll and rule the life.
Annael (Anelia Pavlova)
Sleepless Night A lonely pilgrim is the Moon cautiously hugging the night. Flying slowly yellow balloon, turning its face – from side to side... Dreams come with Her and disappear in the melting river of darkness. Colourless and surreal in silver all the stars sparkle. In sequence sleepless hours ask their questions unanswered, building up many towers – all night stubbornly dancing. Slowly the shadows in dark-blue transform into pink, thinning. Golden, the first ray of the light, too, stretches with the birds' singing. Paling and stepping away is the Moon – a lonely knight from an old and forgotten play, with his armor – the sleepless night.
Annael (Anelia Pavlova)
*** Like a peacocks' colourful tails the wings of Zephyrus are swinging. My Soul searches the peace of the sleeping Moon-trees. Their leaves sing a silvery song about the hidden, eternal Love, which is always there, above – soundless and unreachable... My Soul is patiently picking all pearls of the long, dark night; waiting for the Sun to blossom on the blue forehead of the sky. Come, O, you beautiful Dawn, come and take me! Bless my Soul, that it may shine, and breathe the air of the Gods; cover me with your blissful rain – my tears are the diamonds in your mighty crown... Let me come with You, peaceful Maiden! Let me forget the dark shadows of this night, let me be with You forever – that I may be alive and always abide within the golden chambers of your eternal Day.
Annael (Anelia Pavlova)
*** Life is a seed fallen on the ground, slowly growing in the field of a Love profound. Life is a tree giving home to birds. Life is a sea of soundless words. Life is a number precisely calculated, built up and crumbled – given and taken. Life is a star shining light eternal, moving through the spiral of an endless journey...
Annael (Anelia Pavlova)
*** O Maiden, named Autumnal Rain, you fill the cup of our lives with stars astringent; in your hands shines the candle of a fiery Sun, and motley drops are falling from your glorious dress... I will shelter my Soul beneath the wings of your palms and in calm, quiet dreams my sadness you will lull to sleep. From air and ether countless forms grow and tremble – filling the spaces... fragrances fuse with their being... Ah, unforgettable Maiden, forever you keep the chastity dreamed of the Heavenly waters! How gently your song now resounds – the stars are its tones, suspended, upon the infinite summit of time – harmonies sweetly they shed and everything sinks into them...
Annael (Anelia Pavlova)
*** White flower – a white wish, gloriously blossoming, searches for the absolute purity. Its stalk fills with clear juice, and stores it, its blood transforms from  red to green. Behold, the wine is turned to water! White bird – a gentle thought, never to be seen, gently leads the small herd. Clothed in white is the Divine Shepherd. White light shines from Him, in His full glory He stands. King of the absolute purity! My wish, my white flower is the lamb in His hands, surrendered with love in security.
Annael (Anelia Pavlova)
*** I love this smile! The smile of a flower – blossoming in glory, magically sparkling. The little fly, buzzes its little story, and leaves with a cry... I love the way your eyes look when the sky is washed by the spring rain, and colourful drops sing, repeating their song – again and again... The warm hands of the warmth draw yellow strips – like quinces in autumn, like melting winter snow. Love is a river and flows, everything pours on and everything tries. I do love this smile...
Annael (Anelia Pavlova)
*** to Magdalena A white bird is my Soul locked in the cage of the days. The blue sky calls her and waves; O, how sweetly she is kissed and embraced by its unceasing Light. All stars softly smile through the eyes of the night knitting dreams out of rainbows, weaving past into the future splendent, and a hope of a freedom endless...
Annael (Anelia Pavlova)
*** to my father In those distant days of my long past childhood, when numberless poems were coming to me – like little children, and offering their sweet, innocent words, hanging above my head as over ripened grapes – in clusters; O, then the Golden Muse of Love was my frequent and charming guest! Then life was filled with Light and shadows melted quickly – unseen, unnoticed and dispersed... The poems of my childhood dreams – they still exist, imprinted on those distant days, which live and move – like air... Through their strings of gold transparent fingers play and softly, ruby lips are uttering a song – so gently! Ah, Tenderness, unceasing, You flow within my heart and bring this Innocence again! A throng of poems come again in overflowing numbers! They heal and sooth my mind, my pain, the little child, with me uniting – in circles, closing passing times...
Annael (Anelia Pavlova)
*** I'll wash all of yesterday's hopes, I'll throw away the dead reminiscences, forgotten in the vase of memory. And here I am – new and definitely white, for there to be someone to dream of me, and someone to forget me...
Annael (Anelia Pavlova)
*** The Star of my consciousness follows a circle with a red cross in the middle – the never sleeping Eye of Eternity's riddle.
Annael (Anelia Pavlova)