The Heart of Rhodopa, “Bagpiper”

Each year the village of Gela hosts a Bagpipe Contest, which gathers the old and the young, the professionals and the self-taught, the Bulgarians and many foreign enthusiastic players. Their fingers play restlessly for entire two days, as the melody of “Rufinka bolna legnala” reverberates within the heart of Rhodopa.
I will never forget this diado, as he slowly climbed up the hill of Gela with his bagpipe tucked gently under his armpit. He was old, very old, too old … but his heart was still lively beating and his fingers vigorously bounced of the gaidunitsa (chanter).

(painting accompanied by poem)
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Винаги ще те рисувам,
С тази гайда под ръка
Мили дядо, теб ли чувам
Или мелодията е от паметта?

Винаги ще те изписвам,
В планините и във зноя,
Ех, дано тагоз усетя
Пак душата на Родопа.

Винаги ще те издигам,
Кат икона на стената;
Поне рисувайки те,
В мен живее твойта песен на народа.

***
(translation in English)

I shall always paint you,
With this bagpipe in your arms
Dear grandpa, do I hear you
Or the melody you locked into my mind?

I shall always draw you,
In the blaze, within the glowing valleys
Oh, I hope once more to feel it
– the soul of the Rhodope mountains.
I shall always praise you
Like an icon and a holy spirit
At least, when drawing thee
You inspirit the song of the nation in me.

By Plamena Pehlivanova