Επιμέλεια: Εύα Πετροπούλου Λιανού
It’s spring in the avenue,
let there be no sun!
Let it freeze, let the wind blow,
let snowflakes touch us,
in a shelter of mimosas,
the cold finds us
once again.
Under the magic of flowers,
babies fall asleep,
With lullabies, may sleep find them.
Let the waves that recognize us burst,
and let the lightning strike!
Let our memories search for us far late at night,
even if they may not find us.
Even if a drunkman plants thorns
there will still be flowers left!
Time doesn’t stop,
when the weather storms,
nor when thoughts fade away!
Literary biography
Nikollë Loka was born in Mirdita on March 25, 1960; graduated as a teacher at “Luigj Gurakuqi” University of Shkodra; master’s degree in pedagogy at the University of Tirana, doctorate in history of education at the University of Tirana. He worked as a teacher, principal in a high school and education inspector in the district of Mirdita, then a teacher in a high school in Tirana and a lecturer at “Aleksandër Xhuvani” University in Elbasan. Lives in Tirana. Author of ten poetic volumes in Albanian and three poetic volumes in Italian (two of which with co-authors); included in the anthology “La Poesie contemporaine albanaise”, “L’Hartmattan” publications, Paris 2024. In addition to Albanian, his poems have been published in Italian, English, French, German, Arabic, Romanian, Swedish and Mecedonian. Winner of several literary awards in the country and abroad. Member of several national and international literary associations. Included in the Lexicon of Albanian writers 1501-2001, editions “Faik Konica”, Pristina 2003; in the poetic anthology, 33 years of Albanian poetry (1991-2023), editions “Fiorentia”, Shkodër 2023; in the Encyclopedia of Italian language poets, “Aletti Editore” Rome 2021.
