Clare Pollard,Magma Poetry, Issue 30, October 2004:

Crossing the Carpathians argues lucidly for the timeless lyric. With a pared-down language that would seem clichéd or dull in the hands of many, she manages to write urgent, powerful poems about her life in Romania under Ceaucescu, love, hope and exile.

[...]

Bugan...writes wonderful romantic poetry, as in 'At the Window', where a wet leaf slapping and sliding down glass becomes the erotic image of a lover lowering themselves to her waist "Until, transparent, I bore your kiss" - a line which suggests both a loss of self and a terrible exposure. Lullaby, my favourite lyric of the collection, both soothes and chills with its opening:

     Gentle, gentle my love,
     Let this ease off
     Like Dying in sleep

and ends with the beautiful threat:

     Quiet, quiet my love
     I'll go quiet and gentle,
     I'll go like light.