The notion and standing of the “poet” as a figure of cultural significance varies enormously from European nation to European nation. It almost goes without saying that by and large there has been a reduction in the audience and therefore cache afforded the poet as an artist, and many poets eschew the self-analysis and regard traditionally afforded to those recognised as somehow significant in their field. However there are poetic cultures that remain indelibly “literary”, where the poet is a voice representing far more than just their own concerns. Emilian Galaicu-Păun is inarguably one of these poets – eloquent, assured, politically engaged, his work has left a firm mark on European poetry, and is uniquely bound to the idiosyncratic circumstance of his home nation, Moldova. For the 49th edition of Maintenant, Emilian Galaicu-Păun.

(this interview was translated, conceived and written in collaboration with Livia Dragomir.)

http://www.3ammagazine.com/3am/maintenant-49-emilian-galaicu-paun/

Accompanying the interview are two of Emilian’s poems, translated by Adam J. Sorkin and Cristina Cîrstea

http://www.3ammagazine.com/3am/two-poems-emilian-galaicu-paun/