Petar Tchouhov was born on 23.06.1961 in Sofia, Bulgaria. He published 13 collections of poetry, a novel, two collections of short stories and a children’s book.  His works has been translated into 20 languages and included in many newspapers, journals and anthologies in Bulgaria and abroad. He plays guitar in rock bands, writes music and lyrics. Petar performed his writing and music at festivals and other events in Japan, USA, Russia, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, Albania and Macedonia. He is the winner of the top prize at the 61st Basho Festival in Japan and many more others. Recently, he has been performing his poetry with the spoken rock band LaText (latext.eu) and has been playing also with the bands Gologan and Par Avion Band. 

Petar is a member of the Bulgarian P.E.N.-Centre’s Management Board, the Association of Bulgarian Writers, the Sofia Haiku Club, the World Haiku Association, and Musicautor.

 

One

 

What is to be done 

with that one who,

giving rise to desire,

stands 

in our way

towards it?

 

Shall we slaughter that one 

with the sword of hatred

or settle that one

in the temple of sorrow

and every morning,

during the hour of prayer,

toss that one pieces of that poison

which will grant that one eternity,

but will deprive that one of 

meaning –  

until the day when

we understand 

that we are one.

 

Translated by Angela Rodel and Hristo Dimitrov

First publication of this translation in https://www.bulgata.com/