SONJA GAVRILOVA

 

 

The Next One

 

When time seems to stand still,

when a minute refuses to move,

and every second feels like eternity

in a quiet, subconscious desire

to escape life`s trial,

from that cunning deceiver

with its heavy illusion,

you begin a battle with yourself.

Hold on, hold on…you can,

 and you must.

Soon, the crimson dawn will break.

Hope and strength arrive

through a small ray of light,

so the soul does not surrender,

for one more victory

until the next ticking number

on the clock…

before the next

fateful challenge.

The next one belongs to the future

do not dwell on it.

Crown your victory

with the joy of living

here, today, in this moment.

Hold on to your moment of happiness

that is the path to eternity.

Do not let it slip away.

 

Children`S Messages Of Peace

 

On hummingbird wings,

let messages of peace rise

born from the purest, most

innocent hearts

and travel across the world.

spreading love,

softening what has turned cold in

us,

melting it with childlike magic.

Let war drones

become circus elephants.

Let the streets fill again

with laughter, with play, with noise

the kind only children can make

and let that sound

heal what is broken in adults.

Let peace take the lead.

Let reason return.

Children, united,

have always been

the greatest force of blessing

so let us give them wings,

let us stand behind them,

and say clearly, finally:

Stop the violence.

Stop the wars.

Stop the endless suffering

written into children`s lives.

Let love,

let kindness,

let humanity

shine like a guiding star

so the future

is not only safe,

but truly ours to keep.

 

SONJA GAVRILOVA

 

 

SONJA GAVRILOVA was born in 1962 in Veles, Republic of Macedonia. In 1985, she graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy in Skopje, majoring in Psychology, and began working at the special primary school with a student dormitory “Maca Gj. Ovcharova” in Veles, Republic of North Macedonia. Her first book, “When Children Shed Tears,” was published in 2011. In 2012, the English version of the same book, “When Children Shed Tears,” was released. She published her first poetry collection, “Hope,” in 2016, and in 2021 she released the poetry collection “Calm Within Restlessness,” for which she received a second prize from the association “Data Pesnopoj” – Bitola. She has served as the editor-in-chief for all editions of the poetry anthology “Veles Poetic Pulsations” (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019). She has also been a reviewer and promoter of several poetry collections and novels by writers from the “Kosta Solev Racin” Writers’ Club in Veles. Her poems have been featured in numerous publications, including:“Poems for the Teacher” (2016); the magazine “Veles” (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020); “Metric Caravan Gevgelija–Veles” (2016); the book “Bridges of Friendship” (2019); “Covenantal Lessons” (literary criticism and essays, 2019) by Vasil Tocinovski; the poetry collections from the Children’s Poetry Festival “Stihuvalki” (2018, 2019, and 2025); the anthology of the online poetry event “Vancho Nikoleski 2020” organized by the Macedonian Literary Society “Vancho Nikoleski” in Canberra, Australia; the anthology “Poems for the Miladinov Brothers” published by the “Miladinov Brothers – Miladinovsko Slovo” Foundation (2025), and others.She is also the editor of the book “New Year and Christmas Magic” (2025), published by the “Kosta Solev Racin” Writers’ Club in Veles. She is a member of the Writers’ Club “Kosta Solev Racin” in Veles and Poetry Slam Macedonia. She participates in literary readings, including the Racin poetry caravans. She writes both poetry and prose.