Translator’s Note

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Being a self-taught translator of my own poetry only, I stick to the original as closely as I can. I usually use simple words in my original poetry, so it is not too difficult finding their counterparts in English (or other languages, as I sometimes do self-translations in Greek as well). I seek to render the direct, immediate impact my poems have in Bulgarian (they are about honoring, exalting the moment). I enjoy learning new English words, using the dictionary when I have to. I sometimes spend time choosing between synonyms, wondering whether my feeling about a word reflects its actual investment by native speakers. Overall, I am impressed that editors accept my works, without offering edits (except very minor ones on two occasions).