Tag Archives: bina kals

“Recommendation to God” by Bina Kals

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The Season of Delicate HungerGod if you were born now among us
do you think we’d recognize you

just don’t arrive in a stable
because the media wouldn’t cover that

if you again decided to feed us
with two fish and five loaves of bread
I doubt we’d like it

you know we’ve advanced a good deal
we prefer our bread toasted
and of the fish—caviar
promotes skin regeneration
and removes free radicals

if you haven’t sunk into despair
send only a single star but if possible
far away from the gravitational field of the earth
otherwise global political chaos would ensue

if you have other things to do
do not reopen our eyes
otherwise mel gibson may come out with a new film
in which again you’re being lashed
for an entire 11 minutes
I don’t know how we could stand that

–Bina Kals,
translated from the Bulgarian
by Katerina Stoykova-Klemer
The Season of Delicate Hunger:
Anthology of Contemporary Bulgarian Poetry
(Accents Publishing)

Bina Kals was born on March 15th, 1967 in Bourgas. She holds a degree in biotechnology engineering and is currently studying theology. She has worked as a community organizer and cultural liaison. Bina is the author of two books of poetry, most recently Twelve Hours of Santorini (2011), for which she received a literary award. Bina lives and writes in Bourgas.

“Recommendation to God” by Bina Kals

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Poet Dennis Preston reads “Recommendation to God” by Bina Kals. This poem was translated from the original Bulgarian by Katerina Stoykova-Klemer.

The videos in this series come from the North American Premiere of The Season of Delicate Hunger: Anthology of Contemporary Bulgarian Poetry at the Morris book shop.

“In the Name of the Approaching Time” by Bina Kals

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The Season of Delicate Hunger

I heralded the water in the streams of summer
Twined a wreath from fragrant grasses
Contemplated clouds and islands

Marked the bird’s wings with poetry
And the broadened space

And pteros became eros
In the name of the approaching time

From a drop of rain from rain to drop
I open the fated letter
So all crickets see me
And remember me with sunshine on my lips

I remain tête-à-tête with love
I choose three things
That I want to happen always

How many songs live within me.

–Bina Kals,
translated from the Bulgarian by Katerina Stoykova-Klemer
The Season of Delicate Hunger:
Anthology of Contemporary Bulgarian Poetry
(Accents Publishing)

Bina Kals was born on March 15th, 1967 in Bourgas. She holds a degree in biotechnology engineering and is currently studying theology. She has worked as a community organizer and cultural liaison. Bina is the author of two books of poetry, most recently Twelve Hours of Santorini (2011), for which she received a literary award. Bina lives and writes in Bourgas.

“Amphora’s Throat” by Bina Kals

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The Season of Delicate HungerShe has been in the sea and it has been in her.
She has conceived in the relative peace of the bottom
with crustaceans, greenish-blue seaweed,
lived with the great power of symbiosis.

Perhaps she’s been at some ancient market
with an expectation of travel,
filled with olive oil or wine, touched by strong hands,
but the sea has hidden her in its basement.

Recently she saw the white world and inhaled air at length.

Now she grieves like an abstract symbol,
makes each empty corner more bearable.

We both war against time.
Protect ourselves from the blinding shield of the sun.

–Bina Kals,
translated from the Bulgarian
by Katerina Stoykova-Klemer
The Season of Delicate Hunger:
Anthology of Contemporary Bulgarian Poetry
(Accents Publishing)

Bina Kals was born on March 15th, 1967 in Bourgas. She holds a degree in biotechnology engineering and is currently studying theology. She has worked as a community organizer and cultural liaison. Bina is the author of two books of poetry, most recently Twelve Hours of Santorini (2011), for which she received a literary award. Bina lives and writes in Bourgas.