My recent passions are writing poetry and photography. Now and then I write a story. Actually, my goal is to finish a memoir I started writing in 1991! I don’t know why I want to write when writing doesn’t come easy to me. It never has and it probably never will, except when I need to pour out my heartache into my diary. Then thoughts flow onto paper freely without the editor in my mind wanting to correct each sentence. Still, I feel I must make the effort and go back to that memoir: my offspring might want to know a bit more about their origins.
Born and bred in ex-Yugoslavia I migrated to Australia in 1964, aged 29, with my husband and young son. I was employed as a teacher of French and English for Speakers of Other Languages at TAFE Sydney Institute until my retirement in 1993.
The ups and downs of my life are reflected in my poems and short stories, and the mood of the poems ranges from dark to bright and from serious to downright silly. Laughter is to me like the air I breathe. I’m a fighter and don’t give in easily to misfortune’s impact. My favourite prayer is this:
God grant me the Serenity
To accept the things I cannot change
Courage to change the things I can
And Wisdom to know the difference
Something interesting happened when I wrote the poem My Holden Barina. After researching ‘tercet’ on the internet, I realised I had fortuitously created a new poetic form, which was recently named “tercetonine”. You can read about it in my post My Holden Barina – Tercetonine. My work has been published in anthologies online and in print.
I used to dance, act and paint as a pastime, and am hoping to return to painting one day.
But first I need to get rid of the clutter in the room supposed to become my art studio! I might not live that long, but dreaming is such a lovely occupation.
My friends are also my family. We are there for each other through thick and thin. We enrich each other’s lives. So do my cyber friends. I had dogs, they were family too. And a cat. They all passed away in 2003. Now I have a canary, and local birds visit every day. They too are my friends.
I believe that Forgiveness is the greatest gift you can give yourself and others. And Gratitude is the key to a contented life. So I keep forgiving and counting my blessings.
I hope you’ll enjoy my blog. Comments and questions are most welcome. ~ Irina
You can also join me on Facebook if you wish http://facebook.com/irina.dimitricstojic
my Facebook Page “Choose Love”: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Choose-Love/505151462871447
Twitter https://twitter.com/kookadim
and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dimitricstojic/
Blog Name: Irina’s Poetry Corner
Blog URL: http://irinadim.com
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/dimitricstojic/
Recent News
July 1, 2014 – My book ‘Dreams On My Pillow’ was published.
October 24, 2014 – Interview for Angie’s Diary
July 2018 – My Author Page on Amazon.com can be found at:
https://www.amazon.com/author/irinadimitric
October 2018 – My book ‘Full Circle’ was published.
Irina's Poetry Corner 
excellent blog, Irina…we have the same philosophy on Forgiveness & Gratitude
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So nice to see you here, Richard. I’m glad you like my blog. I think we have the same philosophy on quite a few things.
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Welcome to the world of blogging! Looking forward to getting to read your posts and connect with you. 🙂
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you are so gifted you might want a ribbon? http://kintal.wordpress.com/2013/08/16/thanks-homeschool-crafts/
please do accept, thanks.
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Thank you so much for this award. I am truly honoured, but must unfortunately decline your generous offer. I understand that accepting an award is quite time consuming and I just don’t have any spare time at the moment.
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plus one more award, please http://kintal.wordpress.com/2013/08/16/inner-peace-award/ 🙂 you deserve it.
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You are most generous and kind for offering me another award. Unfortunately I haven’t got enough time to accept it, as I understand it is quite time consuming. I’m very glad you like my posts. 🙂
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no worries, i understand. 🙂
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Thanks, Marlyn. 🙂
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The Serenity prayer has been in my kitchen for 42 years, always near my sink where I contemplate most when doing dishes.I started a memoir in 1997 and had joined a group of retired people who would meet every week …the meetings and sharing of what we wrote would help to jog our memories as well as encourage each other. Unfortunately after 2 meetings, I moved to Toronto and haven’t touched it since.I find some little snippets I share here, stories, poems helps to jog my memory…maybe i will piece them together. I wish to do a memoir of my grandmother mostly.
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Hello and thanks for visiting my blog. I appreciate your confession regarding the memoir you started in 1997. I feel better now! 🙂 Actually, at present I’m writing my dad’ story, his experiences as a medical student and volunteer in World War One. My own memoir will have to stay on the back burner for some time as I’ll next continue with Dad’s story in World War Two. So many photos and documents to go through – very exciting but also mindboggling, I’d like to ask my dad some questions! I’ll have a look at your snippets on your blog.
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Thank you so much for dropping by FeetfromShore!
Looking forward to following your trail!
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Hi Yael, thank you so much for following my blog. 🙂
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Irina, I look forward to reading your writing now that I will be following your blog. The Serenity Prayer is one of my favorites too; I’ve even taught it to my children.
Blessings ~ Wendy
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Thank you, Wendy, for the follow. Looking forward to viewing your posts. 🙂
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The lovely photos and poems made me smile! It feels good to have visited your blog. 🙂
*Thanks by the way for your lovely comments and likes at TMiM.
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Thank you so much for appreciating my photos and poems with a smile. 🙂
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It’s a pleasure! I’ve just made a comment at your page at Narrator Australia. It’s a lovely poem!
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Thanks for visiting Narrator Australia. I saw your comment and I’m so glad my poem made you feel so good. Thanks so much for your lovely comment. 🙂
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Hello again, there I said we would speak again soon! I wanted to thank you for liking my blog and following , do stop by any time you will always be welcome!! 😉
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You’re welcome. I’ll stop by your blog with pleasure. 🙂
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I have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger award. The award for me is about recognizing my favourite blogs. http://bulanlifestyle.wordpress.com/2013/12/02/honouring-awards-better-late-than-never/
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This is the message I left on your blog on your many awards:
Congrats! Well deserved. Thanks a lot for the nomination, but I’m not very skilful at Points 1 and 2 of the Rules and would also find it time consuming to do the rest. I decided right away in the beginning that I wouldn’t be playing with awards. I think I should display a message about that somewhere on my blog. Having said that, I’m humbled and honoured by your nomination. Cheers 🙂 Irina
I left this message on your blog first, then I realised I didn’t approve your message, so I did that and of course it appeared here…Oh it’s so complicated! Now you have an idea about my navigating skills. In the meantime, however, I managed to create a widget about my award policy, which I should have done long ago! Better late than never! 🙂
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No worries about participating in the awards. It is consuming. For me, it is more about recognising bloggers I enjoy following, like you. It is not so much about playing. x
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Thank you for your understanding, dear Lady, and I commend you for your efforts to recognise bloggers you enjoy following. I’ll continue tweeting and pinning on Pinterest instead as I have mastered these pretty well. I like Pinterest because I have easy access to the posts I like. xx
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Hi Irina, Thank you for following my photography blog. I hope you are inspired. I am enjoying reading your blog- beautiful!
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I love your photography blog, Jane. It’s truly inspirational. I wanted to leave a comment there but couldn’t reach the end of all the wonderful comments. I will certainly go back to it. I’m so glad you like my blog. I’m only an amateur photographer with a little digital camera.
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That is so nice, thanks. No matter what camera you are shooting with, it’s all about seeing. Some of my favorite shots are with my point and shoot or my IPhone. Happy shooting!
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Thanks, Jane. I truly appreciate your encouraging words.
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Thank you, for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated!
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My pleasure. 🙂
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THANK YOU so much, Irina, for your encouragement, in regards to my being all downcast about writing English papers. I got it done at 5:40am this morning! Yay! It was definitely due to the wonderful encouraging feedback I had received from you and others the day before.
p.s. I always wonder if I should get the entire series of the “____ for Dummies” books! I shall check the one that you suggest though, because I’m sure I can definitely learn a thing or two from it. Thanks again!
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Congratulations, sf! I’m sure you can learn a thing or two from that book for “Dummies”. I doubt that you need the entire series, though.
I’ve been having problems with my computer and internet connection, which won’t be solved before 1 April when my IT online technician will look at it again through Remote Desk Assistance. It’s amazing how much I’ve learnt by working on my computer according to his instructions. So until then I won’t be doing much blogging.
I wish you a lot of success in your studies. Cheers 🙂 Irina
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Hello Irina,
Greetings from Japan, and thank you so much for choosing to follow my blog!
I’m delighted to discover yours, and will follow with great pleasure 🙂
Warm wishes,
Takami
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Thanks for the follow, Takami. Best wishes, Irina 🙂
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Beautiful blog I am truly happy to be here. It is a beautiful experience to write one’s memoirs. As it is virtually a journey and discovery of our inner self.
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Thank you, Dilip. I’m so happy you dropped by. I’ve just been to your beautiful blog. Now I must go back to press the Follow button. 🙂
Cheers, Irina
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I stumbled upon your site when browsing another. I look forward to reading your writing. The serenity prayer helps keep me grounded. I am a beginner in the world of writing and poetry but am enjoying the journey and my encounters along the way. My site, ScribbleDartsfromtheHeart.com, began as a challenge from a friend but I plan to see it through. I hope to learn from reading wonderful writing such as yours. Sincerely, Mary 🙂
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Thanks for visiting my blog, Mary. You write beautiful poetry. I’ll return to see more of your posts tomorrow.
Cheers 🙂 Irina
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Merhaba Irina…
Me again – and here’s a little New Years message from Türkiye to say “thank you”. I appreciate your recent ‘follow’, knowing how many interesting and entertaining blogs there are out there.
Blogging since June 2013, my little corner of the world tries to offer an eclectic smattering of posts, from basic amateur photography, to sharing my travel adventures over the decades, as well as day-to-day happenings here on our fruit farm in southern Turkey. I also throw in a few of my observations on life and lighter-hearted stuff for good measure.
You are more than welcome to have a look around, stay a while and have a trawl through my collection. There are plenty of categories within the drop-down menus to help in said digging process. Of course, if you have any comments, suggestions or concerns, feel free to let me know – I’m not easily offended 🙂
Hope you have a great day and even better 2015…
UNCLE SPIKE
uncle.spikes.adventures1@gmail.com
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Hello Uncle Spike,
Thank you for giving me a brief description of your interesting blog. I’m looking forward to visiting it again. Enjoy your fruit farm in Turkey!
Cheers 🙂 Irina
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Lovely blog!! I’ve a lot to learn from you and your blog.
Thank you so much for your positive feedback on my blog.
Regards,
Dr.Rohith Reddy
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My pleasure and thanks for appreciating my blog. We learn from each other. Cheers 🙂 Irina
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Hi Irina, would this count as a tercetonine:
A new poetry form have I learned
Tercetonine is the name it has earned
Two lines that rhyme, and a third a leonine – sublime
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What a lovely surprise, Vonita! You have paid a perfect tribute to my creation. This can be a teaching example for the tercetonine. Much appreciated. 🙂 Irina
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Oh good, I will post to mine, thought I would check with you before posting 🙂
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Great! 🙂
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Thanks for liking my last post. The last comment someone wrote on your about spoke of forgiveness and gratitude..which I am still learning Thanks.
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My pleasure. 🙂 Forgiveness is so liberating. It frees your heart from the hurt and bitterness, and instead of feeling miserable, your heart can love again and be grateful for the simple things in life. Gratitude, too, is essential if you want to feel better. ‘Count your blessings’ is not just a cliché, it really works. I’m talking from personal experience, but it took me years to realise I had to forgive. Be patient with yourself and work on it.
Blessings 🙂 Irina
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Hi Irina!
Thanks very much for the blog follow – I look forward to reading your poetry and checking out your photographs!
Kendra
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My pleasure, Kendra. 🙂
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Thank you on behalf of Daylight Tune Ministry to like our poetry. May our poetry bless your hearts and minds 🙂
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Thank you, Yoshiko. 🙂
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🙂
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A lovely and interesting About page, Irina. I completely agree with you about forgiveness. You’ve been in Australia for a long time now and sound as though you have somewonderful friends there. Yugoslavia must seem like a lifetime away. I’m looking forward to reading your poetry and your photography looks excellent, too. 🙂
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Thank you, Millie, for reading About and for the follow. Although my birth country is a lifetime away, it’s still very much alive in my memory and close to my heart. And I have a friend there I grew up with from day one as our mothers were good friends and their mothers were friends. Thanks for your generous comment :).
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Thank you for following me back, too! I’m really looking forward to reading more of your poetry. I’ll try to get hold of your book asap. 🙂
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Thank you for your support, Millie. 🙂
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Irina, you have a beautiful blog and I love your name, so pretty. How thrilling to have a book of poetry published. I dream of writing a children’s book about a leprechaun but need to get started. My mother was born in Ireland! Have nice evening.
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Thanks for the compliments, Kathy. It is exciting to have your book published, so pursue your dream and just start writing. Cheers, Irina 🙂
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Just to let you know that I’ve nominated you for The Creative Blogger Award. I would be delighted if you accept, but if you are unable to do so, that’s OK. The rules are on my post :
https://milliethom.wordpress.com/2015/06/09/creative-blogger-award-x-2/
I’m not sure whether your blog is an award free one, Irina, but I wanted to let you know that I find your posts really ‘creative’. 🙂
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Thank you so much, Millie, for the nomination. I truly feel honoured, but my blog is award free. As soon as I joined WordPress, I realised that that activity was simply too complicated for me and also time consuming. But I do appreciate you think my blog is ‘creative’. 🙂
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Hello again, Irina. Just a quick note to let you know I’ve just put a review of your book on Amazon.co,uk. I’d be happy to put it onto Amazon.com and Goodreads if you are happy with it. As I said, I’ve never reviewed a poetry book before, and it’s quite different to writing about the structure of a novel. Anyway, I love your poems, and your book… Millie 🙂
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Hello, Millie, I’ve just read the review, it’s fantastic! Yes, you can share it wherever you like. I’ve been away for such a long time that I’ve forgotten how to share this review on Facebook and WordPress, but I’ll get there… Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. Cheers 🙂 Irina
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I’m breathing a sigh of relief right now! I’m so pleased the review was OK. I know how you feel about using the computer. Blogging, especially, becomes addictive, and I. m about to cut down drastiacally so that I can get Book 3 finished. I just need to keep my blog going with a post or two each week.
‘ll put the review on Amazon.com and Goodreads today. Are you on Goodreads? I wasn’t, until someone reviewed my first book last year. In fact, I’d never heard of Goodreas before then (that’s how behind the times I am!). Have a great day, Irina. 🙂 Millie
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I am on Goodreads, but I don’t know how to put a review on it. I think I should go there and investigate. However, I did rate a few books there. I’m enjoying your book. Cheers 🙂 Irina
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Thank you, Irina. I’ve put the review on Goodreads and Amazon.com. now. To review on Goodreads, if you go to where you rated it, I think it asks if you want to review it. 🙂
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Thanks, Millie, that’s great. I’ll have a look at it tomorrow. 🙂
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Congratulations Irina! It is no wonder your blog has done so well this year. I want to thank you, for reading my blog post through out this year, I truly appreciate it. I love your poetry. It is so delicate and beautiful, such as yourself. I wish nothing but many blessings be stored upon you in the New Year! Please continue on with your poetry, for it means a lot to a lot of us. Be blessed and continue to bless us all with your poetry. See you in 2016.
Fondly,
Cheryl
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Dear Cheryl,
Your kind words have touched me deeply. I haven’t had much time to write and post lately, so your words of encouragement are very much appreciated. Yours is a truly inspirational blog. Many blessings to you in 2016.
Cheers 🙂 Irina
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Irina, always remember that your words mean lots to many people.
Captain Rick sincerely appreciates your like of Atridim News Journal: https://atridim.wordpress.com/
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My pleasure.
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My grandfather who was a federal judge in the US was from Sofia Bulgaria, and so of course, were all of his relatives, and so many of mine. They are still there now, the Doscolovs. (I look them up periodically.) They are professors of math and such. He moved to the US and I met all my aunts and uncles when they visited on temporary visas. The whole region and history massively confuses me. I know he was Bulgarian, but he also identified as Yugoslavian. I have yet to visit Sofia, but I have been nearby, and it felt good to be there. But also, sort of a landmine, due to all the history.
Your blog is fascinating.
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How interesting! So your grandfather might have been of Yugoslav stock but lived in Bulgaria. Or, he was Bulgarian but lived in Yugoslavia for a while. I guess you will find out one day, maybe when you visit Sofia. Thanks, Cindy, for finding my blog interesting.
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