This paper explores the Danube Delta as a mythopoetic space in the literary works of Romanian writer Paul Sârbu. Known for his evocative portrayals of Delta life, Sârbu transcends geographical realism by transforming this liminal landscape into a realm where myth, folklore, and metaphysical symbolism converge. The study investigates how the Delta, far from serving merely as a picturesque backdrop, emerges as a living, breathing character - sacralized, humanized and often endowed with mythical forces.

Drawing upon texts such as Povestiri din Delta Dunării/ Stories from the Danube Delta, Samka, duhul apelor/ Samka, the Spirit of Waters, Plauri sub stele/ Boglands Beneath the Stars, Lumina năruită-n ape/ Light Shattered in the Waters, Dincolo de lume/ Beyond the World, Vremea chiropterelor/ The Time of Bats, the analysis reveals how Sârbu constructs a symbolic geography in which human existence is inextricably linked to the rhythms and mysteries of nature. His characters, fishermen, wise elders and children - function not simply as individuals, but as archetypes within a broader cosmogony, reflecting a traditional worldview where the boundaries between reality and the fantastic are fluid. The narrative mode, fragmentary and poetic, further enhances this mythic tone, invoking elements of magical realism and oral storytelling.

Through the lens of ecocriticism, cultural anthropology and literary theory, the paper examines the Danube Delta as a space of both cultural memory and existential reflection. Paul Sârbu’s prose not only documents the way of life of some communities, but also reimagines the natural world as a sacred continuum that resists modern fragmentation. Ultimately, the Delta in Sârbu’s work becomes a mythopoetic territory - a threshold between worlds, where nature and narrative converge to affirm identity, continuity and spiritual resonance.

This study positions Paul Sârbu as a key figure in the Romanian contemporary literature, whose work reinvents regionalism through lyrical ethnography and symbolic storytelling, offering a powerful model of cultural resistance and literary innovation. As Paul Aretzu states, “Paul Sârbu’s refined art can undoubtedly and rightfully stand alongside that of great writers such as Mihail Sadoveanu, Panait Istrati, Vasile Voiculescu and Fănuș Neagu.”