On 09.05.2023, the “Georgi Baev” hall of the “Sea Casino” Cultural Center in Burgas welcomed the guests to a real celebration of poetry and art in powerful words, shapes, lines and colours – at the closing of the third edition of the “SEA OF LOVE” competition for poetry and digital drawing, with due awarding of the winners. About 16 students at AEG “Geo Milev” shared their treasured poems in English and Bulgarian and presented digital works of art in which they revealed the human dimension of love – with all its poetic mystery and vastness.
Honoured guests of the event were: Yordanka Ananieva, Deputy Mayor for Education, Health, Social Activities and Youth Policies at the Burgas Municipality, prof. Rumiana Papancheva from the Faculty of Pedagogy at the University “Prof. Asen Zlatarov”, Roza Boyanova, President of the Bulgarian Writer’s Association in Burgas, Jacqueline Neycheva, School Principal of the AEG “Geo Milev”, teachers, students and parents, as well as many representatives of the Burgas community.
A surprise awaited them all at their seats in the hall – special colourful origami in the shape of hearts, butterflies and seagulls.
The celebration started with a speech by Preslava Stoyanova (12.b), editor-in-chief of the Students’ Electronic Newspaper, written in English.
The digital media is managed by the Electronic Media Club under the guidance of Valentina Atanasova, teacher of English. The newspaper has been the actual initiator and organizer of the competition since 2021. For its third edition, “SEA OF LOVE” received over 30 entries in English, 20 in Bulgarian and more than 10 digital images. Their submission for evaluation was anonymous. Three specially invited by the head of the club experts, inextricably linked to Burgas, handled the very assessment in their role as a Jury: Christopher Buxton, Katerina Stoykova and Irina Papancheva.
The short speech was followed by a heartfelt video address to the contestants, prepared by Mr. Buxton – a translator, writer, publisher and former high school teacher at ELS “Geo Milev” in Burgas: “Greetings from England – to all the poets who secretly scribble a line or two in their bedrooms! It was a pleasure to enjoy your amazing poems! Keep writing! I’m so glad I had a hand in this contest!”
Irina Papancheva, a talented fiction writer in both languages, a human rights activist and an editor who lives in Brussels, was so kind to send her video address as well: “I congratulate the participants for the sincerity and courage they put into their poems and for sharing them! The works we selected were extremely interesting for their original and precise imagery. I wish you all the best of luck – keep writing and connecting with yourselves as bearers of the spark of poetry! Good luck!”
The second part of the celebration showcased all the winning entries in the three categories of the competition. The finalists in the English Poetry category were the first to step out onto the podium. Eight magnificent poems touched the hearts of the guests and a rain of applauses poured down. An interesting moment in the presentation of the poems was the Magic Box of Love, from which each author had to draw a piece of paper and read a quote from the work of the next nominee…
Mrs. Ananieva, our guest of honour at the event, awarded the prizes – books and certificates provided by the school management at AEG “Geo Milev”. Here are the lucky winners:
Poetry in English – WINNERS
| 1st place: | “Fleeing love” | Jemile Mukharem Mustafa, 10.b |
| 2nd place: | “Different” | Magdalena Zlatanova Gyurova, 8.d |
| 3rd place: | “Siege of love” | Denislav Yanev Drachev, 12.v |
Honoured works:
“My dear” by Darina Miroslavova Mireva, 9.e; “Broken” by Alexandra Teodorova Sariyeva, 11.d; “Destiny in silence” and “A parallel love” by Siyana Stefkova Zhelezarova, 10.b; “Oh my Romeo” by Stella Martinova Hristova, 8.d;
There followed a short karaoke-like performance by a duet: the audience enjoyed a Bulgarian pop-song, in the style of disco, praising love.
In the second category “Poetry in Bulgarian” six works were performed, which took the audience “to the pier” on Burgas on the coast and led them “along the path of eyes” … only to plunge into the “sea of love” accompanied by applauses. Mrs. Boyanova, our guest of honour, awarded the prizes for this category. Here are the lucky winners:
Poetry in Bulgarian – WINNERS
| 1st place: | “Sea of love – in 3 variants” | Hristina R. Dimitrova, 11.e |
| 2nd place: | “Sea of love” | Kristiyana V. Shivarova, 10.e |
| 3rd place: | “At the Pier” | Nicole B. Yotova, 9.e |
Honoured works:
“The Way of Eyes” by Teodora Iv. Teneva, 10.e; “The Sea in You” by Siyana S. Zhelezarova, 10.b; “Memories” by Rosalie P. Terzieva, 12.e
The third category “Digital Drawing/Picture”, which was intended for participation of students from vocational classes with a specialty in “Graphic Design”, brought together four masters of the dye and stroke. They presented the feeling of love in its broadest sense – love for the sea, the nature, the art, and also the invincible love as a unity between two people…
Prof. Papancheva, our guest of honour, awarded the prizes. Here are the winners:
Digital drawing / image – WINNERS
| 1st place: | “Together, we are unstoppable” | Emilia B. Baicheva, 8.d |
| 2nd place: | “Love towards nature” | Alexandra Todorova, 9.e |
| 3rd place: | “Love is the new wave” | Darina M. Mireva, 9.e |
3rd place winner (left) – Darina Mireva, 9.e
Honoured work (right) – Elena Kiryazova, 8.d
Honoured works:
“Love towards art” by Alexandra K. Todorova, 9.e; “I love drawing” by Elena K. Kiryazova, 8.
The hall also echoed with the songs “Streets” by Petya Dubarova, “Promise me love” by the pop group LZ and “Unchained melody” by the famous Elvis Presley – all performed by the band of AEG “Geo Milev” which was formed at the beginning of this school year and has already appeared in a number of public events.
At the end of the event, the audience had the chance to take part in an online pall: “In three words only – what is art?” Here are the results:
The award-winning works of the young poets from AEG “Geo Milev” are published below. Congratulations to the talented writers with a unique poetic soul and a flair for the beauty of love!
* * *
Fleeing love
(1st place – Jemile Mustafa, 10.b)
All that can be seen is hills, withering dust inflaming my eyes.
Every time I spot that glimmering excitement, shimmering agony
of approaching him again.
The rhythm of my steps in harmony with my heartbeat – synchronising
in a painful torment.
Every second of his presence, like a new essence of my own identity.
That ray of sunshine, coated in black cloth, my Raven.
Looking at me with his dull, greedy eyes.
“Is today’s feast ready my darling?” – he asks with a heart full of secrecy.
“It is.” I say with a depleted tone, holding his hand.
As per usual, I bring my pouch of crumbs. Crumbs worth as much as my soul,
as my Raven says.
We walk and walk in the misty fog covered hills. From time to time,
my Raven asks for crumbs. Every time he does, I get weaker and weaker.
This time, my steps cannot synchronise with my heartbeat.
For, all I feel…
… is a pleasant melody playing instead.
We reach our end, and I give my last handful of crumbs.
My Raven takes them with a greedy whine, while taking my hand too, with himself.
Fleeing away.
A heartbeat synchronised with me.
A delightful memory of fleeing love.
* * *
Different
(2nd place – Magdalena Gyurova, 8.d)
I like raspberries,
unlike you who has always preferred blueberries;
we’re different,
but not as different as you think we are –
I like music, you like it too,
I like the colour blue – so do you,
I love you…
now I wish I could say you love me too,
but if I did, we wouldn’t be so different, right? 🙂
* * *
Siege of love
(3rd place – Denislav Drachev, 12.v)
A heart frozen stiff by sorrows past –
you found hardly beating in my chest,
yet with resolve resoundingly steadfast
you took off to wake it from its rest.
A sudden swift surprise set me aback –
your lovely, luscious lips en route to mine –
without a doubt, a well-thought-out attack
arrived abruptly – sweet, sublime, divine.
You casually conquered the castle I’d built
to proudly protect myself from any pain.
You brashly breached the walls of guilt
and showed me – I had hid in vain.
I fully felt your fierce fervour burn,
lighting a fire even in the flooding rain.
Sooner or later, I would learn –
I had fallen in love again.
Your long pretty hair and doe-eyed stare,
your gentle and caring heart,
I remember that they’re
what made me like you from the very start.
You make all hardships seem bearable
and embrace me with upmost affection.
When life seems like a thing most terrible,
you guide me in the right direction.
Time has passed and I still bask
in the delight that you’re mine…
… and that I have the opportunity to ask:
Will you be my Valentine?
* * *
Море от любов – вариант 3
(1-во място – Христина ДИмитрова, 11.e)
Така и не се научих да плувам,
протягам ръце,
опитвам,
не потъвам,
но и не се движа напред..
Така и не се научих да плувам,
морето е бурно,
сърди ми се,
“уж” не играем на гоненица,
а всеки път ме настига.
Така и не се научих да плувам,
любовта е вълната,
аз съм буквите, изписани върху пясъка,
успява да ме заличи,
но не и пренапише.
Така и не се научих да плувам,
луната разказва,
звездите слушат,
а вятърът танцува.
Появява се момче,
подава ръката си,
дланта ми е студена,
сърцето – топло,
той ми се усмихва,
а морето е вече щастливо.
Дали ще ме научи да плувам?
Вървим по пясъка,
стъпките ни се отпечатват,
той ме поглежда,
а в очите му – морето,
дълбоко, синьо,
далечно, солено.
Ами ако потъна?
Настана зима,
светът притихна,
останахме само аз и морето,
поглеждам отвъд –
момчето го няма,
а стъпките му –
още останали в пясъка.
Морето е бурно,
в душата ми – също,
а аз така и не се научих да плувам…
Мина година,
след нея и втора
вечерта отново се срещам с морето.
Потапям се в него,
вълните ме галят
душата ни се слива,
изпълва ме с вяра –
то ме научи, че любовта те издига
стига само да не забравяш да дишаш…
* * *
Море от любов
(2-ро място – Кристияна Шиварова, 10.е)
Любовта е сняг на плажа:
нереална, синкава, от сън родена.
Райско кътче – свято, скрито,
недокоснато и чисто, необятно, безгранично
като шепот на молитва тиха,
от пороци неразкрита.
Любовта е буря дива, там, на морски хоризонт
с облаци закрили в сиво необятен небосклон…
Бориш се за въздух, несъзнателно се давиш,
пак измъкваш се на косъм, към брега без сили лазиш,
лягаш там по гръб, лицето – бледо, уморено,
ала ето – слънце е изгряло на небето…
Любовта е прилив-отлив като тези на морето.
Споменът за суша там във времето далеко…
А когато вече няма песъчинка, нито дъх от него,
то, морето, тихо се отдръпва… неизбежно.
Любовта е форма на водата,
все променяща се, все течаща.
Като морски полъх от картина
краят ѝ с безкрая все се слива.
Море от любов –
в цял един живот.
* * *
При моста…
(3-то място – Никол Йотова, 9.е)
Над моста достолепно пак изгря.
За пръв път сякаш аз съзрях
лик светъл.
Но за миг изчезна. В дрипа сива от мъгла.
Безмълвна на брега останах.
Наум прошепнах: „Стига ми това.“
Склоних глава.
„Любовта – като наслада за душата“,
чучулига заприпява с тънък глас… Крилата
как разкъсват сивата мъгла!
Доверих се на зова.
Тъй удивително е всичко.
Мигът, брегът, и пясъкът дори
под моите крака.
Безценен малък сувенир
по пътя стръмен към едно-едничко
щастие.
Шум на вълни. И вдъхновение.
На чучулига песен. Чувство.
Усещане за нещо… За изкуство?
Любов.
Безкрайна, необятна, страстна!
И част от моето сърце във всяка песъчинка – зрънце,
което в миг превръща се във слънце.
* * *
See you next year!