The National Center of Books and Reading in Albania published the rare love letter written 85 years ago, in June 1939, by the renowned poet Lasgush Poradeci to Nafije, the girl who captured his heart.
The National Center of Books and Reading declared 2024 as the Year of Lasgush Poradeci, on the 125th anniversary of the poet’s birth. Through poetic evenings, conferences, activities in schools and libraries, meetings with young people, the National Center of Books and Reading will bring the figure of the poet who elevated the Albanian language closer to readers.
To Ms. Nafije Mema, Durrës
Tiranë, June 27, 1939
My dear Nafije,
I had not even rested from the journey when your beloved letter written in the morning came to me after lunch. Oh, how I cherish this letter! What you say, Nafije, those words so dear to me. I will not forget the Saturday evenings we spent together, how happy I was next to you, nor the Monday morning when you brought me water and made my shoes. I won’t forget these, but my big day is Sunday, the twenty-fifth of June filled with your love when in my arms you were my Star. You Albanian woman, the dream of my life, Nafije, gave me a joy so big that morning and afternoon. Your beautiful verse, born straight from your heart, made me work together with such zeal closed in the room. I don’t work quickly, but as you stood by the bedside, in my arms, as I kissed your cheeks and eyes and lips and little mouth and your neck, I don’t know how thoughts came to me so quickly and so easily into words with the harmony of poetry. How truly happy I am, Nafije, we should do it many times, work together.
The stanza you told me about “The Star of the Heart”?
“The Star of the Heart” completely and entirely
Star of the Albanian woman:
The woman with a star on her forehead
That has illuminated my longing
What are you, I could not find
Dream of life, living dream.
Longingly kissing you, your Lasgush.
The letters to Nafije, the girl who stole his heart, will be read on Monday in the spaces of the Venetian Tower in Durrës, at the literary evening entitled “Hour for love and Albanian verses”.
Lasgush Poradeci wrote verses that penetrated deeply into the souls of Albanians and left strong traces, so much so that people began to call the city where he was born “Pogradec of Lasgush”.
