Katerina Stoykova-Klemer interviewed poet Valentin Dishev for The Season of Delicate Hunger: Anthology of Contemporary Bulgarian Poetry. Here is her translation of that conversation.

What would you like for the American readers to know about Bulgarian poetry?

That it’s alive, very much alive. And I’d be happy if the readers were ready enough to read into, feel, see and realize the enormous wealth of poetic traditions which comprise it, which cross through its openness, and—in its best representatives and representations—create a huge volume, space, where the seeking spirit has numerous opportunities to find itself…

* * *

Sometimes,
if a scream cuts through
your veins,
there is no need to look around.
Sometimes you are the blade.

Rust
is only a syllable
of indifference.

-Vantin Dishev

What would you like for the American readers to know about you personally?

That I don’t call myself a “poet,” that I don’t experience myself as such… I am a stalker, a seeker… Equally intoxicated by seeking new “things,” as well as by following the invisible, often unseen tracks which lead to these things… With all the questions, suffering and elation which seeking requires… And—with a responsibility…. infinite, sometimes paralyzing responsibility…

Is there an American poet who has influenced you or has made an impression on you? How do you interact with American poetry?

Of course, all American poets who have become part of the world’s poetic dictionary have been a part of my creation; from birth and renewal, those who were available—then—when still a child, others—much later, when I could freely seek and discover them… The last whom I read and, reread rather often, is Ted Kooser.

What forms of cultural exchange between Bulgaria and the U.S. would you find interesting, practical and helpful?

I’m not a specialist… But I’d love for the “ambassadors” and the “embassies” of Bulgarian culture in the USA to become more in number… and to be alive, just like Accents Publishing and Katerina Stoykova-Klemer…

What do you wish for the anthology and its readers?

To meet each other and to recognize one another… To greet as if relatives who have never met before, and the excitement caused by that meeting to remain after they get to know each other, as well… 

More from our “Meet a Bulgarian Poet” series:

• Emanuil Vidinski
• Petja Heinrich
• Yordan Efftimov
• Kristin Dimitrova

Valentin Dishev was born on May 7th, 1962 in Blagoevgrad. He holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from St. Kliment Ohridski University in Sofia. He is a publisher and serves as editor-in-chief of Ars, an independent press for Bulgarian literature, as well as editor-in-chief of the online journals Crossroads and DICTUM. He is the creator and curator of the ArsMedia National Literary Festival. Valentin is the author of several poetry and prose books, most recently Marguerite and Other Registers (2013). For over 10 years he has hosted literary radio programs on Bulgarian National Radio (Radio Blagoevgrad).