Лириката

I vividly remember an incident from the first years after the war. At that time, the Writers' Union was located on Lege Street and had only two or three modest rooms, which could hardly accommodate even its administrative and editorial departments, which were still very small at that time. Therefore, when general meetings of the members were necessary, difficulties arose and it was necessary to seek temporary shelter under someone else's roof. Thus, somewhat unexpectedly, in March 1947, the general annual meeting was held in the large concert hall of Radio Sofia.

Hristo Smirnenski carries on the wings of his poetry the indomitable rush of the revolutionary storm and the most daring dreams of the sunny day of humanity. The very movement of the many-faced life has found in his poetry an inspired poetic embodiment, capable of greatly affecting the mind and heart of man. Deeply and realistically embracing the main features of the revolutionary era, the dark spots in the cruel dying world of capitalism and the whirlwind flight of the oppressed lowlands to the gates of communism; reflecting in unique pictures and images the very storm of the emerging socialist world, embodying the trembling enthusiasm and unshakable faith in the victorious march of the Great October Socialist Revolution and in the future day of humanity, Smirnenski's work opened new horizons in the development of Bulgarian literature. The scope of his poetic talent is so wide, the enchanting figurative wealth of his works has so deeply summarized the development of Bulgarian literature, so close is the connection of his poetic visions with the people's life and dreams for the future, that it contributes to the unshakable force of laying the foundations of socialist-realist art in our country without much toil and detours. With his life and work, Smirnenski brilliantly showed that the fusion of the writer with the revolutionary aspiration of the masses, placing his heart and lyre in harmony with communist ideas, in the service of the revolution and the liberation struggle of the people, fertilizes his talent, stimulates his creativity, elevates his thought. After Smirnenski, a great writer in Bulgarian literature could only be the one who stands on the positions of realism, on the side of the struggling people. This enormous contribution of Smirnensky had a beneficial effect in two directions: on the one hand, it opened the broad road of socialist revolutionary literature, united democratic writers on the basis of the anti-fascist struggle; on the other hand, it dug a deep chasm for modernism, which could no longer find fertile ground for flourishing in our country. The entire Bulgarian revolutionary literature, supported and guided by the Communist Party, followed the path outlined by Smirnensky. Along this path, learning creatively from Smirnensky, Bulgarian literature created works that are unfading in their poetic power and inspiration, in their insight into the life and pathos of the struggle.

Every poet has the inalienable right to a personal poetic voice and an individual artistic vision. Every lyric has the right to life, as long as the anxious blood of the time that gives rise to it flows in its poetic rhythm... Poetry, hermetically isolated from the pathos of the era, is a lifeless distillate, a sterile extract, without color, without taste and sweetness, without any attractive properties... Such poetry resembles an artificial rose, which, despite its filigree elegance, remains a dead thing. And vice versa - a lyric, bearing the mark of the restless atmosphere in which it was born, is read as a revelation. It sounds like a secret confession. Each couplet echoes in the heart inspired, truthful and strong! Each verse carries the dynamics and tragedy of the time. It is deeply imbued with the feelings and moods of the people... Every good poem grows into a page of a lyrical diary of the era. And the poet - into its prophet. A new and proud inspiration. By speaking with the wisdom of the people, the poet elevates the field of thoughts and feelings. He confesses the most intimate desires, sings with a native voice and takes on the role of an inspired herald in the struggle. To free poetry from theses and qualities is equivalent to shooting it. The artistic work of Veselin Andreev supports the truths about the enormous role of the poet and the poetic word. He brought his own vital themes into our contemporary lyric poetry. He showed the tense life of the Bulgarian partisans and became the discoverer of their heroism, suffering and pride. He pointed out the most acute conflicts of the anti-fascist era in our country, rediscovering them in the rich spirituality of the modern communist, in whose image he saw the unquenchable world of the future.

There are no other two problems so closely related and almost equivalent in aesthetics as modernity and innovation. Both begin with the ability to observe reality, to select and evaluate, and end with the technical techniques of measured speech. Undoubtedly, modernity is a broader category that includes innovation. It is simply implied and very often there is no need to talk about it, it is not necessary to emphasize it specifically. Emphasizing it through deliberate efforts often leads to artificiality and posturing in poetry. It is an elementary truth that true innovation has nothing to do with pretentiousness. Contrary to superficial impressions, it is not the external arrangement of the verse that determines the innovative essence of poetry. Discovery does not depend on meter and rhymes - it can be done with or without them. Although in practice avant-garde pursuits are more closely related to free verse, exceptions are not at all rare.