LION’S SHADOW

(Translated from Serbian)

Clad in lion’s skin, he stands in stillness,

his gaze — a fire burning through the ages.

Within his grasp, the world trembles,

yet his heart speaks only in silence.

Not a hero, but a shadow of defiance,

neither god, nor man without a road.

In every sinew — a hidden wound,

in his smile — the dusk of old.

He bore the burden the world bestowed,

but never let his dreams corrode.

For Heracles is not just force —

he is the flame that walks the darkened course.

LAVLJA SENKA

U lavljoj koži ćutke stoji,

pogled mu kroz vekove gori.

U pesnici svet se lomi,

a srce — u tišini zbori.

Ne junak, već senka bunta,

ni bog ni čovek bez puta.

U svakom mišiću rana,

u osmehu — večna tama.

Nosio breme što svet mu dade,

al’ nikad snove da mu ukrade.

Jer Herakle nije samo snaga —

on je plamen što gori iz mraka.

Maja Milojkovic

Serbia

Poem based on the sketch of

Artist

Κωνσταντίνος Φάης 

Ιδρυτής του πολιτιστικού εγχειρήματος

Ηρακλής ως πυλώνας Πολιτισμού

Maja Milojković was born in Zaječar and divides her life between Serbia and Denmark. In Serbia, she serves as the deputy editor-in-chief at the publishing house Sfairos in Belgrade. She is also the founder and vice president of the Rtanj and Mesečev Poets’ Circle, which counts 800 members, and the editor-in-chief of the international e-magazine Area Felix, a bilingual Serbian-English publication. She writes literary reviews, and as a poet, she is represented in numerous domestic and international literary magazines, anthologies, and electronic media. Some of her poems are also available on the YouTube platform. Maja Milojković has won many international awards. She is an active member of various associations and organizations advocating for peace in the world, animal protection, and the fight against racism. She is the author of two books: Mesečev krug (Moon Circle) and Drveće Želje (Trees of Desire). She is one of the founders of the first mixed-gender club Area Felix from Zaječar, Serbia, and is currently a member of the same club. She is a member of the literary club Zlatno Pero from Knjaževac, and the association of writers and artists Gorski Vidici from Podgorica, Montenegro.