we throw stones and throw
we’ll gather them with bare hands
tomorrow—biting embers
when the weather starts blowing
we will pray for a single tear
to put out the fire inside us

–Stoyanka Grudova,
translated from Bulgarian by 
Katerina Syokova-Klemer
The Season of Delicate Hunger (2013)

Stoyanka Grudova was born on August 29th, 1948. She holds a degree in Bulgarian philology from St. Kliment Ohridski University in Sofia. She has worked as a lab technician, teacher, dramaturg of puppet theater, journalist and editor of a literary magazine. Stoyanka is the author of five poetry collections, including two children’s poetry books. Her latest title, I the Fish, won the Hristo Fotev Annual Poetry Award in 2012. She lives and writes in Ruen, a small village outside of Bourgas.

the one stepping into the future believes
that faith brings fruit

the one who has stepped into the future knows
the taste of this fruit

and the one who doesn’t step shivers here
amidst the icy horror of doubt

–Stoyanka Grudova,
translated from Bulgarian by 
Katerina Syokova-Klemer
The Season of Delicate Hunger (2013)

• “Wordplay as a Weapon in Rebellious Situations”: An Interview with Stoyanka Grudova

Stoyanka Grudova was born on August 29th, 1948. She holds a degree in Bulgarian philology from St. Kliment Ohridski University in Sofia. She has worked as a lab technician, teacher, dramaturg of puppet theater, journalist and editor of a literary magazine. Stoyanka is the author of five poetry collections, including two children’s poetry books. Her latest title, I the Fish, won the Hristo Fotev Annual Poetry Award in 2012. She lives and writes in Ruen, a small village outside of Bourgas.