ČEDOMIR B. ŠOPKIĆ

 

Station Of The Word

I think I've got a station on my forehead

and as my mind assumes,

my wrinkles it seems are rails

the last train on them runs.

In it, the life was a conductor

(on a train that rushes and churns)

my heart was pounded by it everywhere 

and even my tender verses.

The traffic light on red remains

but look, and the little arrow in it stopped....

There's no one for goodbye

to switch on the signal.

His last stop is that

and there will be no other.

We are pulled somewhere to internal rest                                                                                                           the snow of my long winter.

Freedom

I am free

because the Word

and Thought of mine

are free;

and the step, and the walk,

and the dream, and the game,

and the song.

I'm personally free

and I'm free

with the one who has me

for his own

in every sense

of existence

and survival.

I gave freedom

of my works

as traces of fire

live in me.

I didn't take away the freedom

of the one on the horizon

who saw his own star

leader,

nor to the one to whom

he doesn't need anybody

in defense of his

proven selfishness.

In freedom, freedom

for freedom with freedom

at every moment of my life

and in my every breath

what I'm embedding

and I surround them

back to the beginning

for my creature I have

freely

released by me.

ČEDOMIR B. ŠOPKIĆ

ČEDOMIR B. ŠOPKIĆ is a representative of Macedonian contemporary poetry. He was born on September 22, 1959 in Smederevo, Republic of Serbia. He completed his education at the Faculty of Economics, major - economic policy and development at the University "St. Cyril and Methodius" in Skopje. In his more than three decades of working life, he worked as a journalist, radio host, reporter, editor. For a number of years, he has expressed his creativity through a variety of initiatives that aim to improve people's lives. He ended his working life on August 25, 2023 at NU NUB "St. Kliment Ohridski" in Skopje, where he performed his duties at the workplace - Editor of a program for publishing activity. From October 28, 2000 to May 1, 2014, he was the editor and host of the only radio show for people with disabilities in Macedonia, "Panta Rei", which was broadcast on Macedonian Radio, Radio Skopje - The First Program Service. Since 1980, he has continuously participated in several projects for radio and television shows on the First Program of the Macedonian Radio - Radio Skopje and on the Second Program of the Macedonian Radio; for several private radio and television stations in the country, among which: "Our step" [Sound recording] 2001; "Find A Way" [Soundtrack] 2002; "Step forward" [Audio recording] 2003; "Informing Blind People - Between Reality and Possibility I read, hear and write - I exist = (Informing Blind People - Between Reality and Possibility I read, hear and write - I exist) - Defective theory and practice. 2004 In 2003, his translation of the book "Equality of Persons with Disabilities - Guide for Visually Handicapped Women" by the Finnish writer Satu Lindgren was published in Macedonian. In 2014, his translation of the book "Optimism" by Helen Keller was published in Macedonian language in audio format, in Braille and conventional printing. In 2015, his translation of the book "The Life and Work of Louis Braille" by Pierre Henri in the Macedonian language was also published. In 2016, he translated into Macedonian two books: the collection of poems "Bistrica" and the novel "Visit of Prokletia" by the Serbian poet and writer Milutin Srbljak. He creates poetry from an early age, but begins to present his poetry in 2018 with his first book - a poetry collection "Guardian of the dream, my angel" with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture of RSM. In 2023, the second edition of the book "Guardian of the dream, my angel" was published. In 2019, his book-professional monograph "Improving library services for people with reading difficulties" was published. Also, in 2019, with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture of RSM, the first edition of the audio magazine of the Library Association of Macedonia "IDAT DAYS" was published, where he is the editor-in-chief. In 2020, his book-collection of poetry "THE TIMELINE OF INFINITY" was published with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture of RSM, and in 2021 the second edition of the poetry collection book "THE TIMELINE OF INFINITY" was published. With the financial support of the Ministry of Culture of RSM, the audio book "TIMELINE OF INFINITY" and the first edition of the audio magazine of NU NUB "St. Kliment Ohridski" in Skopje "VIDICI" where he is the editor-in-chief. In the first half of 2023, the third amended and supplemented edition of the poetry collection book "TIMELINE OF INFINITY" was published. In 2022, with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture of RSM, the following were published: his book - a collection of poetry "Invisible Presence" and the second issue of the NU NUB audio magazine "St. Kliment Ohridski" in Skopje "VIDICI" where he is the editor-in-chief. The book-collection of poetry "DIRTY VEIL" was published in 2023 with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture of RSM. His poems published in Macedonian and in other languages in literary magazines for literature, culture and art in Macedonia and abroad, in several joint books, domestic and international collections, anthologies, almanacs and anthologies with authors from the countries of the former SFR Yugoslavia and from other countries. His aphorisms, humorous and satirical texts have been published in several radio broadcasts and magazines in the former SFR Yugoslavia dealing with this genre. He participated in numerous poetry meetings and poetry festivals in the country and abroad. Šopkić's poetry has been awarded several times by prestigious and renowned associations and institutions in the country and in the Balkans for his poetry and participation in poetic manifestations.