http://www.croatia.org/crown en-us http://www.croatia.org/crown N/A letters@croatia.org Wed, 22 Apr 2026 23:07:31 +0000 20 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11437/1/Hrvojka-Mihanoviae-Salopek-i-Gordana-Laco-Jadranskih-sirena-zov-2024.html Na samom poèetku treba odgovoriti za¹to su su prireðivaèice odluèile sastaviti antologijski izbor iz poezije hrvatskih knji¾evnica u Dalmaciji od 18. stoljeæa do danas pod nazivom Jadranskih sirena zov. Razlog tome le¾i u impresivnoj èinjenici da upravo na obali Jadrana, u Dubrovniku i Dalmaciji nalazimo u pisanim zapisima prve obrazovane dame kojima je knji¾evnost sama po sebi, ali i vlastiti pjesnièki izraz nezaobilazni dio osobnosti i intelektualnog identiteta. Izdavaè spomenute knjige je Splitski ogranak Dru¹tva hrvatskih knji¾evnika. Autorice su dr. Hrvojka Mihanoviæ-Salopek (na slici, HAZU, Zagreb) i izv. prof. dr. Gordana Laco (Sveuèili¹te u Splitu). darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko ®ubriniæ) Tue, 14 Jan 2025 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11263/1/Japan-remembering-Vladimir-Devide-1925-2010-Croatian-haiku-poet-and-mathematician.html Mihovil Rismondo, Croatian painter from the city of Split (age 71), painted twelve canvases inspired by haiku poetry, under the auspices of Japanese Embassy in Croatia and the Tourist Association of the city of Zagreb. In this way, ten years since the death of Vladimir Devide have been marked, a well known Croatian haiku and mathematician. He was the greatest promoter of Japanese culture in Croatia. For his contributions in popularization of Japanese culture he was awarded the prestigious Japanese Order of the Sacred Treasure - Konsanto Zuihosho. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko ®ubriniæ) Wed, 09 Sep 2020 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11239/1/Nasja-Boskovic-Meyer-from-St-Louis-USA-author-of-a-collection-of-poems-in-Croatian.html Here is yet another noted book by Nasja Meyer, member of Lodge 50 from St. Louis, MO, instructor of the Croatian language, and co-author of the well-known Croatian textbook "Croatia - The Country and Language" that she wrote with her daughter, Dr. Jasna Meyer. The new book is a collection of poetry titled "Five Red Rubies" ("Pet rubina crvenih") published this summer in Croatia. The book is hard cover, printed on high quality paper and illustrated by a well known water color artist, Lenka Zavirsek, from Split. It contains over 200 poems, all but one in Croatian. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko ®ubriniæ) Thu, 07 May 2020 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11155/1/Hrvojka-Mihanovic-Salopek-Veneration-of-the-Blessed-Virgin-Mary-in-the-Diocese-of-Gospiae-Senj.html We often travel to the Adriatic coast through the spacious, desolate, forested and mountainous expanses of Lika, without being aware that there used to be a highly developed center of medieval Croatian culture and Glagolitic scriptoria. Although the brutal Ottoman invasions wrought devastation, we are attracted to the residual traces of the original old Croatian civilization. This is Hrvojka Mihanovic-Salopek's 11th DVD from the series Stella Maris of Croatia (Croatian Mariological heritage). darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko ®ubriniæ) Sat, 04 May 2019 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11099/1/Oliver-Dragojevic-1947-2018-distinguished-Croatian-pop-musician-and-composer.html Except in Croatia, he had concerts at Olympia in Paris, Carnegie Hall in New York, Pearl Theatre in Las Vegas, Royal Albert Hall in London, Konzerthaus in Vienna, Opera House in Sydney. Umra je Oliver. Zamuèa je ra¹pavi glas koji smo svi volili. Michael Bolton iz Vela Luke. Zamuèala je Dalmacija, zamuèali smo smi mi koji smo uz njegove pisme ¾ivili. Resli, jubili, pivali, gu¹tali, sièali se, sanjali. ... Ne znan kako vaman, ali meni je ona najtipiènija slika Dalmacije zalaz sunca iza otoka, bonaca, i zvuk èetverotaktnog motora na trabukulu negdi u kanalu. A najtipièniji glas Dalmacije voljene je Oliver. Bog ga blagoslovija! Maja. Written by Maja Cioni (b. Buliæ), Paris. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko ®ubriniæ) Sun, 29 Jul 2018 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11068/1/Ivana-Marija-Vidovic-translated-into-Croatian-the-verses-written-in-1876-in-honor-of-Franjo-Krezma-in-Verona.html In 1876, young Croatian violinist Franjo Kre¾ma (on the photo), then at the age of 14, had a series of three consecutive concerts at the Ristori Theatre in Verona, on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th December. The concerts have been announced by beautiful verses written by anonymous Italian author G.D. The verses have been translated into Croatian in 2018 by Ivana Marija Vidoviæ, distinguished Croatian pianist, poetesse and writer. Franjo Kre¾ma was a violin prodigy: he earned his diploma at the Conservatory of Vienna at the age of 13! He died very young, at the age of 19. ivanamarija.vidovic@gmail.com (Ivana Marija Vidoviæ) Wed, 16 May 2018 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/11030/1/Ivana-Marija-Vidovic-i-Vesna-Miletic-s-koncertom-na-Rijeci-27-i-30-studenog-2017.html U ponedjeljak 27. studenog 2017. u Narodnoj knji¾nici u Kostreni sv. Luciji te u èetvrtak 30. studenog u dvorani Hrvatske èitaonice Trsat odr¾at æe koncert Klavirski duo Fantazija kojeg èine dubrovaèka pijanistica i pjesnikinja Ivana Marija Vidoviæ te pijanistica Vesna Miletiæ. U Kostreni æe im se pridru¾it i pjesnikinja Vesna Miculiniæ Pre¹njak s Rijeke, a za izbor i recitaciju stihova odgovorne su pjesnikinje Vidoviæ i Miculiniæ Pre¹njak. Na Trsatu æe kao gost koncerta klavirskog dua nastupit i zbor Hrvatske èitaonice Trsat pod ravnjanjem maestra Vinka Badjuka. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko ®ubriniæ) Tue, 10 Oct 2017 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10796/1/Traditional-celebration-in-Subotica-Prelo-sicanja--to-be-organized-on-7th-February-2016.html CROWN is very proud to announce a traditional celebration of Prelo 2016 in the city of Subotica. The whole region of Baèka where the city is situated is one of the trademarks of Croatian culture, especially via beautiful songs and dances of Bunjevci Croatians in Baèka. At the beginning of the 20th century, the city of Subotica was the largest Croatian city (larger than Croatian capital Zagreb). Also, the oldest Croatian soccer club called Baèka has been founded there, and its trademark was the Croatian Coat of Arms. The celebration of Prelo siæanja starts on 7th Feb 2016 at 5pm near the Franciscan church and continues at the Croatian Cultural Center Bunjevaèko kolo at 7pm. Traditional Bunjevci suits are obligatory. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko ®ubriniæ) Fri, 29 Jan 2016 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10793/1/Drago-Stambuk-promoting-global-haiku-consciousness-and-deepening-friendship-between-Brazil-and-Croatia.html When Dr Drago ©tambuk (on the photo) proposed the creation of a Haiku Award in memory of Professor Vladimir Devidé, Croatian mathematician and the pioneer of haiku in Croatia, he suggested that modern and traditional haiku should be treated as equals. This is especially crucial for international haiku composition and competition, since not all languages can reflect Japanese syllabic patterns, nor do all climates mirror the four clear seasons which find expression in classical haiku. We also illustrate interesting contacts with Brazililan poets, established by Dr Drago ©tambuk as a former Croatian ambassador in that country. darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko ®ubriniæ) Wed, 20 Jan 2016 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10776/1/The-Canon-of-Croatian-Poetry-1450-2000-Over-200-Croatian-Poems-with-English-Translations.html Translated, edited and annotated by Ivo and Vinka Soljan, this work offers a panorama of Croatian poetry written over the last five centuries. Touching on the different subjects and shifting fashions of poetic creativity throughout Croatia’s turbulent history, this poetry reveals the spirit of its people. The poems are clustered chronologically into chapters representing seven literary periods. The Renaissance, The Baroque, Classicism, Romanticism, Croatian Modernism, Echoes of the Two World Wars, and The Postmodern-Contemporary Period. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Thu, 17 Dec 2015 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10717/1/Vladimir-Bubrin--Vinko-Grubisic-The-Glory-and-Fame-Croatian-Renaissance-Reader-NY-2015.html Vladimir Bubrin & Vinko Grubisic (on the photo) have prepared an important and extensive book dealing with Croatian Reanaissance literature.  It has been published in 2015 by Croatian Academy of America, NY, USA. The book has 589 pages and provides the original Croatian texts from the Renaissance period (14-17th century), their translation into contemprary Croatian langague, as well as into English. Large portions of the book have already been published in the Journal of Croatian Studies, issued by the same Academy. Now, by publishing the book this valuable material has been made available for broad public - for students, experts, as well as to all those interested in Croatian literature. Professors Grubi¹iæ and Bubrin live in Canada, employed at the University of Waterloo and the Univeristy of Toronoto, respectively. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko ®ubriniæ) Wed, 22 Jul 2015 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10508/1/quotCaught-Between-Darkness-and-Lightquot-is-a-new-collection-of-poetry-by-Walter-Mirkovic.html Croatian-American author Walter Mirkovic has published his first book of poetry. The book titled "Caught Between Darkness and Light" is a  collection of poetry highlighting observations of the world through spontaneous workings of the mind and personal experience. The book is illustrated by his niece Adriana Starcic. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Tue, 21 Jan 2014 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10415/1/Miro-Gavrans-interviews-and-plays-to-be-shown-in-Poland-the-Czech-Republic-and-in-Belgium-in-June-2013.html Miro Gavran, the greatest contemporary Croatin playwright, will soon have several appearances with his plays and interviews in Poland, the Czech Republic, and in Belgium. His works have been translated into 35 languages worldwide, including Chinese. His play Hotel Babilon is in some way very special: it is a monodrama in which his wife Mladena Gavran (on the photo) plays as many as ELEVEN different roles. darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko ®ubriniæ) Fri, 07 Jun 2013 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10396/1/Radoslav-Lorkovic-Croatian-American-musician-ranging-from-classical-and-jazz-styles-to-blues-country-and-soul.html Drawing from a multitude of influences ranging from elegant classical and jazz styles to the rawest, most basic blues, country and soul, Radoslav Lorkovic has taken on an unusually broad musical spectrum and refined it into his distinctive piano style. His tenure on the R&B and folk circuits has culminated in five critically acclaimed solo recordings and numerous appearances on the recordings of and performances with artists including Odetta, Jimmy LaFave, Ribbon of Highway Woody Guthrie Tribute, Greg Brown, Richard Shindell, Ellis Paul, Dave Moore, Andy White and Bo Ramsey. darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko ®ubriniæ) Fri, 05 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10371/1/Concert-broadcast-of-Nenad-Bach-Band-and-Friends-in-Croatia-Feb-17th-at-015-am--615-pm-EST-on-HTV2.html Respected Croatian musician and world promoter or Croatian culture, Nenad Bach and Friends, entertained us all with his charity concert in Zagreb for the abandoned children of Nazor street, November 2012. They say Nenad is an artist with a Croatian soul and an American passport. The footage of the Zagreb concert will be shown on February 17th 2013 on HTV2 at 0.15 a.m. in Croatia and 6:15 p.m. EST on HTV2. darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko ®ubriniæ) Fri, 15 Feb 2013 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10333/1/Nenad-Bach-Band-in-Zagreb-at-the-Vatroslav-Lisinski-Concert-Hall-on-Friday-30-November-2012-20pm.html We are pleased to announce the forthcoming concert of Nenad Bach and the Nenad Bach Band in Croatia's capital Zagreb, on Friday 30th November 2012, 20 pm. His special guests will be distinguished Croatian musicians Arsen Dediæ, Klapa Sinj, Radojka ©verko, Miroslav ©koro, and Marko Tolja. It is for the first time that Nenad Bach has a soloist concert in his native city of Zagreb, after about thirty years of very successful career in the USA and worldwide. Through his singing and songwriting, Nenad’s goal is to spread the message of joy and universal peace. darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko ®ubriniæ) Mon, 26 Nov 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10318/1/Drago-Stambuk-a-samurai-poet-connecting-Japan-and-Croatia.html Dr. Drago ©tambuk, Croatian ambassador to Japan until 2011, is an expert in medical sciences, and a haiku poet of international reputation.  His book From Nowhere has been published in Japan in 2011, prepared by Mr. Shokan Tadashi Kono, in three languages: original Croatian, Japanese and English. The book was published in time when the earthquake, followed by disastrous tsunami, shook Japan. darko.zubrinic@gmail.com (Darko ®ubriniæ) Tue, 18 Sep 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10276/1/Sasa-Casic-young-Croatian-winemaking-prodigy-of-Pakrac-and-his-teacher-Ivan-Enjingi.html Sa¹a Æasiæ is 28 year old professional wine maker from the town of Pakrac on Croatian north. He has been awarded as the most successful young entrepreneur in 2012 by the Ministry of Enterpreneurship and Crafts of the Republic of Croatia. This is a result of ten years of hard work and advices of his older colleague, another distinguished Croatian wine-maker Mr. Ivan Enjingi. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Thu, 07 Jun 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10261/1/Croatia-Haiku-Super-Power---Vladimir-Devide-Haiku-Award-2012-goes-to-Kudryavitsky-and-Maretiae.html The Second Vladimir Devide Haiku Award was announced by Akito Arima, formerly Japanese Minister of both Science and Education, and president of the University of Tokyo, and current president of the Haiku International Association. The award attracted over 200 entries from 28 countries, and this year the prize was jointly awarded to two authors, Anthony Kudryavitsky from Ireland, and Tomislav Maretiæ from Croatia on the photo. Croatia is considered a Haiku "superpower". darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sun, 20 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10236/1/2nd-Vladimir-Devide-Haiku-Award---Open-Haiku-Competition---deadline-March-1-2012.html Despite a successful international academic career as a renowned mathematician, with professorships in Australia and the US, as well as his native Croatia at the University of Zagreb, it is primarily as a Japanologist and haiku poet that Vladimir Devide is now remembered. Please send your submission in Englihs by email to librasia@iafor.org with 'Haiku competition' in the subject heading. Please remember to include your name, address and contact details. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Tue, 28 Feb 2012 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10186/1/Ljubo-Stipisic-Delmata-1938-2011-distinguished-composer-and-proponent-of-Croatian-music-and-spirituality.html Ljubo Stipi¹iæ Delmata's personality contains a multitude of traits: composer, poet, melodiographer, painter, producer, conductor of a-capella ensembles, etc. Maestro Delmata has been honored numerous prestigious music awards including several lifetime achievement awards. His work is of immeasurable musicological and cultural importance, especially for preservation and strengthening of the identity of  Croatia. Maestro Ljubo Stipi¹iæ died on October 9th 2011 at the age of 74. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko ®ubriniæ) Mon, 10 Oct 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/10094/1/Ivana-Marija-Vidovic-in-Rome-piano-recital-and-poetry-book-in-Italian--Croatian.html Croatian pianist and poet Ivana Marija Vidoviæ will have a piano recital in Rome 29 March 2011 dedicated to Dora Pejacevic, the first Croatian woman composer. On that occasion her new bilingual poetry book will be presented, published in Italian and Croatian. Two days earliear, 27 March, she will have a concert in Cecina, Italy. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Wed, 23 Mar 2011 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9798/1/Ivana-Vidovic-performing-Dora-Pejacevic-in-the-city-of-Zadar-May-30-2009.html Ivana Marija Vidoviæ, Croatian pianist from the city of Dubrovnik, will soon be a guest of the University of Zadar. Her rectial includes compositions of Albéniz, Chopin, Liszt, Pejaèeviæ and Resta, starting at 21:00, May 30 2009. Students of the University will perform her poetry dedicated to Dora Pejaèeviæ, the first famous Croatian women composer. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Thu, 28 May 2009 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9796/1/Hrvojka-Mihanovic-Salopek-and-her-Stella-Maris-project-of-St-Marys-heritage.html  Dr. Hrvojka Mihanoviæ Salopek is the leader of an important project Stella Maris - Sea Star, devoted to centuries of St. Mary's heritage in Croatia in the broadest sense: from church architecture and sacral paintings to church music, poetry, literature and Croatian Lenten chants. Till now the project resulted in 5 excellent DVD's which describe an important part of 13 centuries of Croatian spirituality and culture in Europe. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 23 May 2009 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9669/1/Marin-Sperandas-attractive-photos-of-the-City-of-Dubrovnik.html Many people think that the City of Dubrovnik is one of the most beautiful in the world. Marin ©peranda, living in Dubrovnik, is amateur photographer, and his photos indicate in his very convincing poetic way the beauty of his native City. Dubrovnik is the unique city in the world lovingly called by its citizens simply as GRAD, i.e. the City. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Wed, 10 Dec 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9510/1/Vladimir-Devide-and-Haiku-poetry-in-Croatia.html Professor Vladimir Devidé, Croatian mathematician, is better known as outstanding Japanologist and tireless promoter of haiku poetry. Croatia is one of the most successful nations in haiku in the world, counting the number of prizes won at various international competitions. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sun, 16 Mar 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9297/1/3-Books-by-Janko-Deur.html   Janko Deur (left) falls into the category of writers who divides his work and lives between two homelands - Croatia and the United States. He has won critical acclaim for his works. Read what the critics have to say and how to get your own copies of Deur's books. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Wed, 10 Oct 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9250/1/NAMO-JE-Posveaeeno-dragin-vatrogascima-poginulin-prilikon-gaenja-poara.html Namo je svon cviæu nestalo boja, namo je i dite postalo ratnik, namo je umrla i radost moja! IvanDobra@aol.com (Ivan Dobra) Thu, 06 Sep 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9057/1/Dr-Drago-tambuk-one-of-Croatias-best-loved-poets---Presentacion-de-Andres-Morales.html Dr. Drago Stambuk is presently the Croatian ambassador to Japan and former Croatian ambassador to Great Britain, India, Egypt and six other Arab countries; he is a medical doctor and researcher; and one of Croatia's best loved poets. His selected poems are being published in a volume which will comprise approximately 600 poems.        letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 06 Jun 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9036/1/A-Dream---Why-far-away-from-home.html Why, far away from home? For the very first time I slept and dreamed peacefully about life, As a tree dreams in the winter, And as a fruit tree dreams its early spring dream, and blooms and blossoms. It's a dream that a fruit dreams in the summer and fall, and it ripens. A dream, a very last dream. Radenkofanuka@aol.com (Radenko Fanuka) Tue, 01 May 2007 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8858/1/Pasionska-batina-u-Hrvatskoj.html UDRUGA PASIONSKA BA©TINA I DRU©TVO HRVATSKIH KNJI®EVNIKA raspisuju natjeèaj za knji¾evno djelo na temu Muke Kristove, ili na temu, ¹iroko shvaæene, opæeljudske muke. U ozbir dolaze do sada ne objavljena knji¾evna djela, i to: roman, veæa pripovijetka, drama, poema, te zbirka stihova.   darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Thu, 07 Dec 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8820/1/MOJ--OTAC---Mile-PEORDA.html     ljerka.ivankovic@sabor.hr (Ljerka Ivankoviæ) Fri, 24 Nov 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8799/1/New-York-Nova-zbirka-pjesama-Ivana-Dobre-irjanina-quotMOLITVA-IRAJSKI-OLTARO8220.html     IvanDobra@aol.com (Ivan Dobra) Fri, 10 Nov 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7162/1/H-Ivan-Dobra-Zirjanin.html ÂIvan Dobra Zirjanin  ÂDOMOVINAZibala me kajno matidavno tamo u mom dvorui za manun vajik patiu toj zivki, na ton moru.Zove noćun i po danu,pa nju, more, rodne skolje,tu mi pismu ispivanu,sanjan, grlin s puno volje.A ona mi sapće miloda me čeka, duson voli;da odmorin svoje tilo,puno patnje, puno boli. Mati moja, Domovina,kruh je merki, tvrda â stina!Dana Gospodnjega 12. sičnja, 2005.New York, U.S.A.ÂÂop-ed:Ukoliko zelite kupiti Ivanove knige poezije, ili ga zamoliti da odrzi vecer citanja poezije, posaljite mu email naIvanDobra@aol.com ili ga nazovite na telefon u New Yorku 718 278-3611ÂIf you want to buy Ivan's books of poetry or ask him to hold an evening of reading, send him an email to IvanDobra@aol.com, or call him at 718 278-3611 in New York.ÂNenad BachBILJESKA O PISCUPjesnik Ivan DOBRA ZIRJANIN rodjen je 12. siječnja 1958. godine u Sibeniku. Nakon zavrsenog prvog razreda na otoku Zirju, prelazi u Sibenik i nastavlja pohadjati Osnovnu skolu na Baldekinu. Potom zavrsava metalno strugarsko usmjerenje u Skoli za učenike u privredi, te se zaposljava u ondasnjem Remontnom brodogradilistu u Mandalini. No, istovremeno pohadja i uredno zavrsava Prometno-tehničku skolu u gradu svoga rodjenja. Po odsluzenju vojnog roka seli se u Sjedinjene Američke Drzave; nastanjuje se u predgradju New Yorka, gdje se, poput mnogih nasijenaca koji su ovamo stigli, vodjeni ponajvise razlogom "trbuhom za kruhom", ne zaposljava odmah u svojoj struci, nego se izvjesno vrijeme bavi raznim poslovima, sve dok mu, najzad, nije uspjelo osnovati vlastitu malu kompaniju za izolaterske radove.Medjutim, Ivan Dobra Zirjanin ne trosi svoju fizičku i duhovnu energiju jedino u okviru ovoga svog odabranog posla, koji mu je potreban utoliko sto mu omogućuje normalne svakodnevne prihode za sigurnu egzistenciju, kako svoju, tako mu i uze obitelji, pa nam je istaći da se ostvaruje i na mnogim drugim područjima djelatnosti i zanimacija. Tako je angaziran, prije svega, aktivnosću unutar udruga američkih Hrvata na području New Yorka; pa u radu Zavičajnog kluba otoka Zirja, kojega je osnutak inicirao u tijesnoj suradnji s jos nekolicinom sumjestana kojima je na srcu njihov rodni skolj i sve ono sto ih za nj neraskidivo vezuje, i kojega je Kluba aktualni predsjednik od samoga mu osnutka; zatim je od posebnoga značaja njegov angazman kao suradnika "Hrvatskog Korijena", lista Hrvatske Katoličke Misije Astoria u New Yorku; isto tako, kao talentirani pjesnik, uspjesno sudjeluje na priredbama hrvatske iseljeničke lirike, o čemu svjedoče i pohvalni napisi u tamosnjem hrvatskom tisku, a uočen je i njegov vidan doprinos u nastojanjima Hrvatskog svjetskog kongresa (kao sto je. npr. organiziranje nastupa hrvatske etničke skupine na paradama i festivalu u New Yorku). Takodjer je i aktivan član Hrvatske akademije Amerike.Dakle, Ivan je jedan od onih nasih uglednih i uspjesnih iseljenika koji će se u ovih dvadesetak i vise godina svoga boravka u ovim američkim prostorima toliko visoko uzdići da će ga, tako, i novine za Hrvate u Americi i svijetu "Croatian American Times", a koje izlaze u New Yorku, u svome 76 broju od 30. srpnja 2002. godine proglasiti "osobom tjedna" (Person of the Week) i za nj će se, tim povodom, reći kako "Ivan Dobra ulazi u ovu rubriku kao simbol onih brojnih doseljenika koji su se teskim radom potvrdili u američkoj sredini kao vrijedni i posteni radnici, roditelji predani svojoj djeci i domoljubi koji su, prihvaćajući novu domovinu, ostali jednako vezani i za svoju staru, sto se tako izrazilo u doba borbe za slobodu i nezavisnost Hrvatske. A kad je u pitanju njegova nova domovina, Ivan Dobra je bio medju prvim Hrvatima koji su dali krv za nastradale u terorističkom napadu na World Trade Center".Kao osvjedočeni zaljubljenik u svoje Zirje, a o čemu vrlo uvjerljivo govori i ogromna većina njegovih pjesama u ovoj mu pjesničkoj zbirci, kroz sve ovo vrijeme njegovoga privremenog izbivanja u dalekoj tudjini, nesebično je i zdusno pomagao i pomaze svoje omiljeno i nikad ni na tren zaboravljeno Zirje â jednako u materijalnom i u duhovnom pogledu. Ivan Dobra Zirjanin napisao je do danas mnostvo pjesama, uglavnom soneta, i to ponajvise na idiomu rodnog mu skolja Zirja, dok mu je manji broj pjesničkih uradaka napisan na standardu, ali uvijek s vidnim vraćanjem korijenima, odnosno lokalnom u vokabularu i akcentu.Inače, pjesme su mu bile tiskane i u domaćem hrvatskom i američkom tisku, tako mu je pjesma "Sićanje" (po svemu sudeći, kao njegov prvi pjesnički uradak uopće!) bila objavljena u rubrici "Prvotisak" u "Sibenskom listu" u kolovozu 1996. godine, dok mu je veći broj, uglavnom naboznih pjesama i soneta, izlazio u spomenutom "Hrvatskom Korijenu" u New Yorku, i u novinama za Hrvate u Americi ÂThe Croatian American koje, takodjer, izlaze u ovom gradu; pa u dva navrata po rukovet čakavskih pjesama bio mu je objavljen u zajedničkim zbirkama hrvatske iseljeničke lirike ("SESTERO PUTNIKA" 2000. i "KA DOMU SVOM" 2003, godine, oba puta u izdanju Hrvatske Katoličke Misije - Astoria u New Yorku; onda mu je u zadarskom tjedniku "Regionalu", isto tako, u rubrici "Prvotisak", 5. veljače 2003. bila objavljena pjesma "Patnja", a osobito je hvale vrijedno njegovo učesće u zajedničkoj ediciji, pod naslovom âZbirka poezijeâ, izisloj u Koprivnici 2004., gdje mu je objavljen selekcionirani ljubavni sonet âSkladna srcaâ. Valja nam, nadalje, ovdje s radosću istaći da je, odnedavno, mnoge posjetitelje Interneta privlačilo i nekoliko njegovih izvanrednih soneta objavljenih, osim na sibenskim web stranicama, i na stranicama sličnih domovinskih i izvandomovinskim magazina, kao i na mreznim stranicama Ekoloske udruge âZirâ, gdje mu je âinstaliranaâ nadahnuta domoljubna pjesma "Sačuvaj ga" kao dirljivo autorovo svjedočanstvo o iskrenoj privrzenosti rodnom mu otoku Zirju, a, preko njega, i sirem zavičaju i svekolikim zavičajnim vrednotama.A do sada mu je, pak, tiskano i pet samostalnih zbirki pjesama: "U STAROM KRAJU" (u vlastitoj nakladi, Sibenik, 1996.) "U STAROM KRAJU II" (prosireno izdanje, u vlastitoj nakladi, Sibenik, 1997.), "KUćO STARA, DOME MOJ" (u vlastitoj nakladi, Sibenik, 1999.), "ZIRAJSKA SVITLA I SKURINE" (u izdanju Matice Zadrana, Zadar, 2003), "ZIRAJSKA UFANJA" (u izdanju Matice Zadrana, Zadar, 2004.), a uskoro izlazi iz tiska i sesta Ivanova knjiga soneta pod naslovom "MOLITVA ZIRAJSKI' OLTARO" (u izdanju Matice Zadrana, Zadar, 2006.). Zivi i djeluje u New Yorku, s kraćim boravcima, ponajvise za ljetnih mjeseci, u starom kraju. Roko Dobra, prof.MOJ LEUTPrijatelju dragi, napisi čakore:je li jos vajik unde nasukan na zalu,vaskolik rasusen, s biljegon pokore,ponizan do plača, sakrit svakon valu?Prazninon sa' skriplje, al' krcat je solio' slanoće mora ku je vik svoj pija;dani mu se trosu u suhoj jargoli,a di sve ni isa! a di sve ni bija!Madir mu napuka i ne drzi vodu;bonaca ol' jugo javi' će se zatin,pa bi jopet moga sluziti svon rodu,taknuli ga ruke ka' mu se ja vratin.Vrime čini svoje: parićaje, giblje,u daljini srce moj leut već ziblje!Ivan Dobra ZirjaninDana Gospodnjega 22. lipnja 2005.New York, U.S.A.MA DI SMO SE MAKLIMa di smo se makli o' svoga komina,kajno da smo raci, a mirine vapuduse ke su posle sa svitlon luminapa su rastuzile i 'nu skuru napu.Ma di smo se makli, da nan drugi sijuâKi će peku par'ćat i kruh zaprećati;namistit trnoge i skuhat lusijuka' će se prez ikog i sutra snoćati?Ma di smo se makli u mrzlu tujinu,ostavili zala, masline i sike,a mogli smo kusat i sir i pujinu,neg' smo u svit posli cuncukati zike.I mogli smo gljedat doma dicu dragu,a ne se klanjati u tujini vragu!Ivan Dobra ZirjaninDana Gospodnjega 20. rujna, 2005.New York, U.S.A.MA ČA ĆE MI TI SVITâ i svoju ljubav â on brizljivo čuvaza zvijezde u visiniza srca u daljini.Tin UjevićOka' srce s tobun modro more dili,oka' mi se zivot u tvoj vas ulija;sve o' one noći ka' smo ljubav pilimrljus za lipoton s ticam doletija.Oka' mi te ruka u skurini nasla,ka' si se lasćila kaj biser lusturei ka' si mi rekla da se nisi snasla,postala si slikon nebeske piture.Ma ča je Venera naspran tvoga tila!I najlipsa diva pokrila bi očika' bi rujno vino iz just moji' pilača ga Bog, kaj sriću, na kanelu toči.Ma ča će mi ti svit ka' mi tebe nima!Pasalo je lito, a talja se zima âIvan Dobra ZirjaninDana Gospodnjega 23. kolovoza, 2005.New York, U.S.A.MASLINAU skripelju, krsu, gorireste sama i ne plače;dikor susa, zedj je morina podanku punon zdračeOl' zelena, oli suhakajno svit je ona stara;lipog sesta, zlatnog ruha,nadzivi' će gospodara.Zamrljuse kaj slavuljaka' joj tepas: Bozji plode!I dade ti zlicu uljaka' usrkne kanu vode!Ruku isće, srce daje;ki je ljubi, taj s' ne kaje! Ivan Dobra ZirjaninDana Gospodnjega 3. lipnja, 2005.New York, U.S.A.Âop-ed:Ukoliko zelite kupiti Ivanove knige poezije, ili ga zamoliti da odrzi vecer citanja poezije, posaljite mu email naIvanDobra@aol.com ili ga nazovite na telefon u New Yorku 718 278-3611ÂIf you want to buy Ivan's books of poetry or ask him to hold an evening of reading, send him an email to IvanDobra@aol.com, or call him at 718 278-3611 in New York.ÂNenad Bach letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 22 Mar 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7163/1/H-Snijeg-na-moru.html ÂOmis, sijecanj 2006Âphoto: Denis FistanicÂDragi Nenade: Mozes li vjerovati da je ovo slikano u Omisu jucer? Pozdrav Ina ZecÂ-----------ÂVec smo dva dana okovani snijegom i ledom. Treci puta u 23 godine nasega boravka u Veprincu, zaselak Falalelici. Na 245 metara nadmorske visine . Sve je u bijelom ogrtacu: jele, cempresi, ogoljeli orah, smokve, jabuke, dunje i breskve. Naravno i palme kao i bambusi koji, drhcucici i trepereci pored raskosnih smreka potvrdjuju svoju njeznost i izazivaju jednako osjecaj samilosti kao i divljenja.Nebo sivo, more sivo, niski oblaci prekrili otoke Cres, Krk i Losinj. Daleke su Unije potpuno nestale, potonule u maglicastome sivilu. Samo se obris planine Ucke zlati na zapadnom obzorju. Ona je kao mladenka, sva u bijelom, tek je na glavi zadrzala oblacni sesiric ili kapicu. Mozemo to nazvati i velom. Cini se da ce jos snijeziti.Uz pozdrav,Nevenka Vucemilovic8.sijecnja 2006 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 26 Jan 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7164/1/E-Reflections-on-Croatia---Her-Adriatic-is-as-blue-as-blue-can-ever-be.html ÂReflections on CroatiaBy Rusty BrooksCroatia.Why such an enigma?Her shape comes not from the stroke of a cartographerâs pen,Or the happenstance of rivers and mountains,But from history.Of a history of being an impenetrable wall to Europe.Her role was as a fence.A fence often hammered and rammed from both sides,But a good solid fence to make any farmer proud.She has served her purpose well.But she is a fence too long neglected.She needs mending and some much postponed repair.But does a good farmer come to do the repairs?No! She is left to hold herself up,To keep herself viable against all the elements thrown against her.Yet she still stands! Proudly!She glistens in the bright sunshine of a new day.Her Adriatic is as blue as blue can ever be.Her mountains as green as any place on earth,Her rivers clear and cold and her people strong, proud, and warm.She reaches out her hand and heart to guests,She welcomes them into the homes of her people,Her people share the bounty of her land in food and drink and laughter and stories.They ponder the futureAnd hope.They hope for a Croatia full of promise,Full of history,Full of opportunity,Full of strength that has overcome tremendous odds.Take note of her.Take notice of Croatia.She is a beautiful gem that must be discovered.She must not remain an enigma!She must be a destination.She deserves to be visited.Savor her beauty and charm,Relish in her warmth and spirit,Ponder her history and her future.She has much to offer.She is Croatia.A very special place in so many wonderful and enchanting ways.I have been smitten.I will return.She is an enigma no more for me.I know Croatia. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 11 Jan 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7165/1/H-Kako-li-je-lijepa-ljubav.html ÂKako li je lijepa ljubavRanojutarnja budjenja ili patnje starijih osobaHvala Bogu i dobrim roditeljima! Zahvaljujuci Andjelu sna koji me u ranim jutarnjim satima napusta i ostavlja bez pozdrava i ikakvoga opravdanja, obracam se jutarnjem programu radio ZGB-a. Slusajuci 'Znanja i spoznaje' saznajem zanimljive stvari kao i to, da na tom svijetu ima mnogo vecih nevolja od nesanice. Kadgod se covjek zatekne u nekoj krizi pomazu bogatstva mudrih misli na koje nailazimo citajuci dobro stivo kao i narodna mudrost koja se, uglavnom, prenosi usmenom predajom. 'Od velikog zla postoji i gore!' Ne spavas, ali lezis na udobnome krevetu, grije te topao pokrivac, imas svoju sobu, krov nad glavom; usto – usprkos visokim godinama hodas svojim nogama, hranis se i pripremas hranu svojim rukama, gledas i divis se ljepoti prirode, premda ti vid pomalo otkazuje. Jaka svjetlost ubada, jer se makula, ona tockica u oku, deformira, srecom usporeno, malo po malo!Dakle, imatelji nemira s nesanicom, ostanite spokojni, avrijeme ispunjeno ranom budnoscu ispunite lijepim sjecanjima i slicicama iz dalekoga djetinjstva. Tako sam se prekapajuci po najranijim dozivljajima prisjetila kako sam kao malena djevojcica cesto obicavala pratiti svoga Tatu na odlazak na posao. Uhvatio bi me za ruku i s noge na nogu pomalo smo odmicali mekom poljskom stazicom sve do raskrizja. On mi je pricao ili sam ja postavljala pitanja na koja je detaljno odgovarao. Na kraju puta podigao bi me do svoga lica, poljubio u oba obraza i sretno i sa zahvalnoscu primio moje poljupce. Uz nekoliko dobacenih poljubaca uz obavezno mahanje rukom zavrsio je ispracaj. Kako li je lijepa ljubav. Jos me iz daljine grije i polaze osmijeh srece po smezuranoj kozi moga starackoga lica.Imala sam oca, koji me je ucio domoljublju. Jos uvijek ga imam! Imala sam majku koja me je ucila razlikovati lijepo od ruznoga, posteno od nepostenoga. Jos uvijek ju imam! Hvala Bogu i dobrim roditeljima! Uz sretan Bozic, Nevenka Vucemilovic letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 01 Jan 2006 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7166/1/E-Oblivion---And-the-Tiamat.html ÂOblivionâ And the Tiamat [Sonnet of the Tiamat] Her mouth sunken with undying black bloodâ  The same, King Belphegor in Hell sips.  Silentâat nightâabout the halls of Sheol, Unnoticed, she walks dribbling the cursed blood; The Tiamat has found her pacing-place, divine  Where she sneers in jest, at Belphegorâs whims.  O Hades and your relentless cryptic sides! The fallen demigod has mockery eyes! Ah! I hear her echoes from walls of stone  From pre-historyâ, to dawnâs eternalâ.  She bellowsâfrom Arch kingdoms, far below. As I stand here in wonderment and stare  A sad gaze; who feels his soul eternal  I hear her blind echoes, echoes, echoesâ ! #512 [3/1/05] by dlsiluk  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 11 Mar 2005 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7167/1/H-POEZIJA-I-RACUNALNO-TEHNOLOSKI-NAPREDAK.html ÂPOEZIJA I RACUNALNO-TEHNOLOSKI NAPREDAKNa adresu Medunarodnog instituta za književnost stiglo više od 8500 tisuca pjesama(povodom 3 pjesnicke zbirke: ERATO, ERATO Teen i ERATO Junior - koje izlaze iz tiska u rujnu 2004. godine – kao jedinstveno multimedijalno izdanje s podrucja književnosti u Republici Hrvatskoj)Unatoc sveprisutnoj globalizaciji društva koja je rezultirala sve bržim nacinom življenja i otudenjem od mnogih istinskih životnih vrijednosti, poezija je pokazala i dokazala da živi svoj, zaseban život skriven u najdubljim i najintimnijim zakutcima covjekova bica daleko od svakodnevne strke, imperativa zarade, pokazivanja i dokazivanja. Fascinantna je covjekova potreba da, ušavši duboko u sebe - svoje osjecaje, misli i preokupacije pretoci u stihove i stavi ih na papir – sacuvavši ih tako od prolaznosti i zaborava. Najcešce se ovakvi stihovi cuvaju skriveni u intimnim dnevnicima i bilježnicama, skriveni od ociju javnosti te dostupni samo autoru i njegovim najbližima: upravo je zato neprocjenjiv užitak citati ove pjesme pristigle iz svih krajeva svijeta, sakupljene i dostupne na jednome mjestu. Raspisavši natjecaj ERATO za najljepšu lirsku pjesmu željeli smo potaknuti na pisanje poezije, na kreativno izražavanje kroz pisanu rijec, željeli smo ohrabriti one koji cuvaju svoje pjesme skrivene da ih podijele sa svima nama; ocekivali smo veliki odaziv, no ovakav odaziv, gdje je na adresu Medunarodnog instituta za književnost stiglo više od 8500 tisuca pjesama u sve tri kategorije: ERATO, ERATO Teen i ERATO Junior, zaista je premašio sva ocekivanja. Evidentno je da ovakav odaziv ne bi bio moguc bez tehnološkog i racunalnog napretka te pristupa Internetu - što je omogucilo ne samo informiranje Hrvata diljem svijeta o ovome iznimnom projektu, vec i njegovu realizaciju, koja ne bi bila moguca bez kvalitetne racunalne opreme. Jednako tako, multimedijalni pristup književnosti (uz ove jedinstvene pjesnicke zbirke ide i multimedijalni CD s racunalnim zapisom pjesama objavljenim u zbirkama te audio zapis pobjednickih pjesama – recitacije u izvedbi renomiranih dramskih umjetnika Kreše Mikica i Olge Pakalovic – uz glazbenu podlogu) ne bi bio moguc bez podrške i suradnje s tvrtkom HGspot, koja je prepoznala nužnost i znacaj informatizacije književnosti i umjetnosti. Sudjelovanjem u realizaciji ovog literarnog natjecaja, tvrtki HGspot kao jednom od najpoznatijih racunalnih imena u Hrvatskoj želja je bila istaknuti vezu izmedu modernih tehnologija kojima se HGspot bavi i književno-umjetnickog stvaralaštva. Upravo su racunala i Internet glavni pokretaci novih tokova, te širenja lirskog i opcenito književnog izražaja. Racunala nam otvaraju nove vidike te omogucuju javnu objavu radova pa tako pjesme postaju pristupacne i najširoj publici, a ne samo odredenim književnim krugovima. Premda je format knjige dakako nezamjenjiv, pokazalo se itekako nužnim da književno-umjetnicka djela budu pristupacna i u drugim formatima; tako je danas, primjerice, postalo nezamislivo da ljubitelj književnosti i poezije ne može otici na Internet te uživati u bogatstvu stihova koji su tamo dostupni – i ne samo to: omoguceno mu je kontaktirati sa svima onima koji dijele njegovu ljubav i interese. Novost na hrvatskome književnom tržištu je navedeni multimedijalni CD kreiran prema zamislima informatickih strucnjaka tvrtke HGspot, koji ce omoguciti svima onima koji nemaju vremena citati poeziju u knjiškom formatu ili pak nemaju pristup Internetu – uživati u poeziji udobno smješteni ispred svojega osobnog racunala.Ivan Cesic letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 30 Jul 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7168/1/E-How-Do-I-Love-Thee.html ÂHow Do I Love Thee?How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.I love thee to the depth and breath and HeightMy soul can reach, when feeling out of sightFor the Ends of Being and ideal Grace.I love thee to the level of everyday'sMost quiet need, by sun and candle-light.I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.I love thee with the passion put to useIn my old griefs, andÂwith my childhood's faith.I love thee with a love I seemed to loseWith my lost saints - I love thee with the breath,Smiles, tears, of all my life! And if God choose,I shall love thee better after death.Elizabeth Barrett Browning letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 15 Jan 2004 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7169/1/E-Jazzcubes-Poetry---Zagreb-Redefined57.html ÂJazzcubes Poetry Zagreb Redefined57. Put the coat-of-arms into a freedom, protected, enjoyed, planting seeds of success.  --Steve Renko letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 16 Dec 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7170/1/H-Ljerka-Lukic---SNOVIDENJE.html ÂIz zirke poezije Ljerke Lukic: Snovidjenja:Odlazak iz BosneSpakirah moj zivotu dva velika koferai dvije manje putne torbe.Strpah moje iskustvo u rucni prtljag.Smjestih moje brigeu dzepove. Stavih moje nadeu dlanove.Zalijepih moja moranjaza tabane.Pohranih moja sjecanja u dusu.Ubacih moj oprezu oci.Zatvorih roditeljske poljupce i suze u moj molitvenik. I krenuh…..ÂBiljeska o autoriciLjerka Lukic je rodena 1, svibnja 1962 godine u hrvatskoj obitelji u Zivinicama, Bosna i Hercegovina. Diplomirala je materinski jezik i knjizevnost na Pedagoskoj akademiji u Tuzli 1983. Diplomirala je s odlicnom ocjenom kroatistiku na Pedagoskom fakultetu u Osijeku 1986 i magistrirala s odlicnom ocjenom drustveno-humanisticke znanosti iz podrucja filologije. Preselila se u Toronto 1995 gdje uci TESL Predavanje engleskog kao drugog jezika. Posjeduje vrijednu zbirku narodnih nosnji i rucnih radova iz sjeveroistocne Bosne. Slobodno vrijeme provodi fotografirajuci rucne radove kako bi se otrgli od zaborava i izumiranja. Slika ptice i cvijece (ulje, akrilik, konac…, na platnu). U pripravi su joj za objavu kratke price, putopisi, autobiografski roman….Njene izlozbe, monodrama i knjizevne veceri su vrlo zapazene.Op-ed:Ukoliko zelite kupiti knjigu Snovidjenja, autenticnu poeziju Hrvatice iz Bosne i Hercegovine, obratite se Katarini Tepesh naTepeshK@aol.com i/ili Profesorici Kroatistike i Magistrici Hrvatske filologije Ljerki Susan Lukic naljerka-susan@rogers.com NB letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 13 Nov 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7171/1/E-Jazzcubes-Poetry---Zagreb-Redefined54.html ÂJazzcubes Poetry Zagreb Redefined54. Just Standing There. The feet are rooted in the farm dirt, no wind chimes, no chimney to climb, just standing there, inserting envelopes into invitations.  --Steve Renko letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 11 Nov 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7172/1/HE-MORNING-ON-THE-PACIFIC-won-Award.html ÂMORNING ON THE PACIFICŠtovani Prijatelji ,Prije tjedan dana je završila 9'th Annual Poetry Convention u Orlandu -Florida.Za mene je to bio veliki dogadaj, posebno kad su mi rekli da sam prvi pjesnik iz Hrvatske koji je došao na Famous Poets Convention.Drugi veliki dogadaj se dogodio treci dan.Naime taj dan su proglašavali pobjednicke pjesme.Podjeljeno je 50,000.00 $ nagradenim pjesnicima.Ukupno 20 nagrada od oko 700 pjesnika.Moja pjesma JUTRO NA PACIFIKU je dobila peto mjesto i nagradu od $ 1000.00 , William Shakespeare Trophy of Excellence -Famous Poet for 2003, Famous Poet of the Year 2003 Medallion -Famous Poets Society i Diplomu za uspješno završen -Famous Poets Mester Workshop " The Spoken Word :Techniques for Giving Voice to Your Poetry " kod Poznatog glumca i direktora Mr. Al D' Andrea . Ovim putem se želim zahvaliti svim prijateljima koji su mi pružili moralnu podršku i svojoj djeci Emiliju,Ivani,Anthonyu i Deeni, te suprugu Mili koji su mi dali materijalnu i moralnu podršku i omogucili mi odlazak u Orlando. Neka i Vama Dragi Prijatelji ova moja pjesma bude hrana za dušu kao i mojim najdražima i meni osobno.Posebno se želim zahvaliti Croatian-American Times-u koji je pisao o mom odlasku u Orlando i proglasio me Osobom - Tjedna, CroWorldNet-u i Gs.Nenadu Bachu,Gs.Zvonimiru Ranogajcu,Mss. Brendi Brkusic,Ms.Katy Fontain,Ms.Mariji Miletic- ,Mrs.Dragici Grabovac,Gs. Bošku Ciklicu,Mrs.Nancy Hataway,Mrs. Bety Cody,Mrs.Marta ,Obitelji Pocina, Mrs.i Mr. Krušelj Rajka i Marijan, Mrs.Rozi Galic,Mrs. i Mr. Markulin Gordana i Marin, Ms.Heidi Granic,Mr.Draganu Razmilovicu,Mr.Ivi Petranovicu,i hvala svima onima koje sam možda zaboravila ovog casa spomenuti.U posebnom attachmenu cu Vam poslati par slika iz Orlanda.S PoštovanjemBozena Boska Marcelic MORNING ON THE PACIFICGood morning I told the sunThe sun that touched me with its warm golden raysAnd then I said:"Good morning my beautiful ocean"My ocean that touched me softly I wrote on the sand - Your nameThe waves came and washed them awayMy eyes wandered away to the far away seaWhere ocean meets the sky Until I was lost in its depths My heart began to trembleI gasped for airThen closed my eyes And surrendered to youI let you navigate me , I let you take me You - blue pearl of my heartA place of my happinessNow, I know, I am sure I carve your name in my soulIt will stay there all of my life -foreveras long as you exist,Croatia -my loveTomorrow I will come again And tell you the same;"Good morning my beautiful ocean"Then I will wait and wait for you to return to me And embrace me again Softly with your waves.........By;Bozena Boska MarcelicApril,18. 2003Imperial BeachCaliforniaE-mail: boska1@cox.net letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 31 Oct 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7173/1/E-Jazzcubes-Poetry---Zagreb-Redefined3.html ÂJazzcubes Poetry Zagreb Redefined3. So many lights, in so many days, often full of blind trust saving the day for a late grandfather still missing inside a postcard. --Steve Renko  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 28 Sep 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7174/1/E-Find-the-time-to-stop-and-read-a-poem.html ÂTime for a PoemTHE POSTERS featuring poems that have recently appeared all around the capital on billboards and public transportation are part of a project entitled Time for a Poem. The project will run until August 18.The project's aim is to bring contemporary poetry as close to the public as possible. Poets from Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and Slovakia created poems with a general theme - meetings.Time for a Poem is more than just the mere presentation of lyric poetry; it is a political sign of new, united Europe, which retains its historic and linguistic identity towards achieving a common goal. The title of the project also means that people should find the time to stop and read a poem, and forget their everyday stress.This event took place for the first time in 1983 in Viena. It later went international with displays in Prague, Budapest, Bratislava, Ljubljana andZagreb. The motto of the year 2003 is "Lyric Poetry Without Borders - Meetings", and the project will be displayed in the countries of the participating authors, in the language of the country. The poems are short and simple, forming silent messages of language in the loud world of products.http://www.slovakspectator.sk/clanok.asp?cl=13585 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 13 Aug 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7176/1/E-Jazzcubes-Poetry---Zagreb-Redefined16.html ÂJazzcubes Poetry ÂZagreb Redefined16. ÂTook the grade school ruler, set it to the coat- of-arms, Âstretched out the flag across those days when the geography disappeared, the homemade soup dropped out of the open can, the weather reports danced to the beat of a see through glazed postcard.  --Steve Renko  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 31 Jul 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7175/1/HE-Bozena-Marcelic---Famous-Poets--com.html ÂFamous PoetsPostovani prijatelji,Drago mi je da Vam se mogu obratiti ovom predivnom elektronskom postom i izvjestiti Vas o jednoj interesantnoj pozivnici. Naime prije 10 mjeseci sam poslal mojih 5 pjesama /na Engleskom jeziku/ na natjecaj za ulazak u Antologiju poznatih americkih pjesnika. Komisija je odabrala moje 2 pjesme /Miris mora i Cekanje/ za tu knjigu.Sada nakon 10 mjeseci dobila sam poziv za svecanu promociju knjige " Na krilima poezije" u kojoj se nalaze moje pjesme uz kratku biografiju i sliku.Ta ce promocija biti u Orlandu /Florida/.Meni je jako zao sto nisam u mogucnosti / iz financijskih razloga/ prisustvovati ovom /za mene / neponovljivom svecanom cinu promocije jedne knjige. Biti cu sretna ako potrosite malo vremena i pogledate kako je organizirana ta promocija.Zao mi je sto nemogu biti tamo sa nasom hrvatskom zastavom.S postovanjem,Bozena - Boska Marcelicboska1@cox.net --- Original Message ----- Greetings Bozena, View the Shakespeare Trophy of Excellence here! While we rarely send email to our poets we wanted to follow up our convention invitation letter with this, as some of you have told us you did not receive any such invitation letter. We also thought we would let you know about our web page which contains some of the highlights of the letter and brochure (a PDF version of our brochure is also available). Do take a look at the Shakespeare Trophy of Excellence, which we did not have created in time to show in the brochure. Isn't it beautiful? We look forward to celebrating poetry with you in Orlando! Poetically yours, Lavender Aurora If the link to our page does not work paste this in your browser:http://www.famouspoets.com/MN.asp?pg=Con9 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 31 Jul 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7177/1/E-Jazzcubes-Poetry---Zagreb-Redefined11.html ÂJazzcubes Poetry Zagreb Redefined11. The Distance Between. Kuma Vikica's living room had a postcard deep into yesterday. Medicine was free, neighbors friendlier, the sky cleaner, every chair sat on, every tear drop a song, never noticing the field dirt on the shoes, the distance between the knee and the ankles closer with each foot to the kitchen.  --Steve Renko  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 22 Jul 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7178/1/E-Jazzcubes-Poetry---Sunrise325-LakeShore-Jazz.html ÂJazzcubes Poetry Sunrise325. LakeShore Jazz.   "Chasing." Â Barb wire keeping house in Chet Baker's horn, emotional heroin renting the rim in Bird's sax, Monk's dimes sweating beads on the stage ivory, an ashtray chasing Sonny Rollin's Blue Note, Miles was always some kind of blue in his Billie Holiday New YorkÂcity.  Â --Steve Renko  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 14 Jul 2003 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/5521/1/H-Poezija---Kresimir-Butkovic.html   Poezija                         -  KresimirButkovic - ZA KAJ BI CA& Zakaj bi Ca smetal Kaj,i zac bi Kaj Ca smetal,kaj to nis reci za nas zavicaj,i zac bi se jedan drugom nametal?Zakaj ne bi morje doslo k nama,i nasi bregi bili deli morskih zrna,zakaj Sever ne bi bil prama ,a Jug topli plava nam krma?I zac nisu judi ka u po ju cvi t,da bi ih bilo brez razlike svuda,i da u Zagrebu bude Split,i da Sava Splitom vrluda?Zakaj bi Ca smetal Kaj,ca ni bo je da su tolike ri ci,oni su oba horvatski takaj,a pisma il pjesma s njima se dici!PURGERSKI PLAVODigli su Dubravu, Ravnice, Donji Grad,digli su Trnje, i Tresnjevku, i Centar,pa nek mi kazu da Zagreb je gad!U crne zastave zavili tribine,u crne odore skrojili sudbine,pa nek mi kazu da Zagreb je gad,pa nek mi pljuju na moj rodni grad!Stavise okove na zastave plave,liju se zuci, i padaju glave,a mi smo jednako jadni k o prije,i neka se smedja fotelja sad smije.Jer ja cu zauvijek za istim stijegom,onako purgerski pod svojim brijegom,zaurlati kad god budem htio,volim te Dinamo gdje god mi bio!POMISLIMPomislim da sam noc, u tamu odnosim svo nakupljeno smece, bez traga, odnosim daleko,bez povratka.Pomislim da sam jutro, donosim sunce, i jutarnju izmaglicuna proplanke. Otvaram snene ocizaspaloj djeci.Pomislim da sam more, i u valu donosim pjesmu,sumim, dubeci kamen i cvrste stijene, skrivajuciu tisini svojih dubina, potopljene brodove i ugaslezivote mornara.Pomislim da sam planina, lovim oblake parajuci kisu.Po meni se penju ljudi, zudeci daljine sto ih od pogleda skrivam.Pomislim da sam zemlja, svojim tijelom hranim, dajem,cuvam i pokapam! Crna, zuta, bijela, crvena, i svi me vole,na meni ginu, krv liju, ali me vole.Pomislim da sam nebo, isarano dugom, oblacima putnicima,Po meni plove ptice, sareni baloni, u moja njedra gledaju ljudi.Pomislim da sam voda, tecem i sve napajam, smiju mi seu lice gledajuci svoj odraz, a ja pojim zedne donoseci sa sobomzivot.Pomislim da sam vatra, gorim u necijem kaminu, grijem promrzleruke nekog siromaha, palim sve necisto, gorim.Pomislim da sam vjetar, podizem prasinu, bacam jei nosim na krovove kuca, ulazim u stanove i lupam vratima,vijorim ponosno barjake, kovitlam zauzdane zmajeve, mrsimkosu prelijepim zenama, skrivam im se u bluzu, bjezim.Pomislim da sam zrak, ulazim u tijela svemu zivom,kroz mene prolaze, ljube se, disu, masu rukama, stiscusakama, tlace me u bocama, a ja kao mjehuric isplivamiz mora i opet sam tu.Pomislim da sam pjesma, sto sa usana titra i donosi srecu,Otkrivajuci, skrivajuci, budeci, opominjuci, slaveci.Pomislim da sam svemir, nedokuciv, taman, pun tajni,a opet dostupan.Pomislim da sam san, uvlacim se u tudje misli, plaseci ih,radujuci ih, pitajuci ih.Pomislim da sam cvijet sto mirise u sobi, da sam svjetlo u tvom oku, da sam ljubav, da sam brsljan& Pomislim, pomislim, pomislim& ZAGREBU Lutamo zivotom kao neki stranci,nije nam dosta potrosenih dana,duge su sjene nasi stari znanci,dok umire sunce a radja se tama;Ponekad netko pogledom isprati,sve boje sto nebo je dalo,kad utihnu ptice, tko ce to znati,u jednu pjesmu koliko je stalo?Lome se svjetla izloga ducana,pred njima tuzna stvarnost stoji,odavno kisom i suzom sprana,jedna je crna, druga u boji.Prokleto peku stisnute oci,u hladnom znoju zora se budi,dok sunce zarom uzvraca noci,zalutalo pseto odanost nudi;Uz slamove grada ne trosite rijeci,odavno nitko nista ne cuje,ovdje se samo zbog novca kleci,poneko dijete o Dinamu snuje.Vuku se ljudi k o prebita stoka,Zagreb je ista hrvatska prica,na grbu modrom izbitog stoka,zvijezda i vrata ostatak su kica.Poneseni slikom pustih obecanja,slijeva se rijeka naivnih ljudi,s Markova trga razocaranja,opet se samo Zagrebu sudi!Pa nismo mi ovce samo za vunu,u ovom gradu milijun dusa,na cetiri dijela podijelite krunu,pa nek svak dio ponosno kusa!Ponesite snove u predgradje grada,urusite slike ruralnog koda,ovdje je prva umrla nada,mi smo krma potonula broda;Lutamo zivotom kao neki stranci,na jedvite jade skrpamo sutra,duge su sjene stari nam znanci,tek pjesma ptica vraca nam sutra.NIMA VISELanterna ne gasi sjaj vrimena,miruju mrize, Bepa vise nima,na krcatu rivu zbilo se judi,da zalazak sunca isprate vinom.Ni barke, ni batane, ni skarpina,samo kuce restu, radjaju se dica,bestimlju ljudi i vrime i sime,ni kise da ispere grija.Dernja se dite na lesadu od ribe,ka glavoc je okrenia vratom,niz sporka usta cide se sline,da uvati majku na sentimente.Pasalo je vrime od cukra i masti,nima covika da gre u poje,masline blide i same zriju,u kanatu ovce bleje  vode.Bepa nima, ni skerce od Kuke,na fjaku se lipe kapi od znoja,fali sam korak i ne cujen zvuke,na ledja svak prti vrimena svoja!KAK Kak sunce kaj na nebu sja,od njega nigdo lepsi ni ,tak poput belega snega,pod Sl emenom On stoji!Nek sam probaju nekaj rec ,pak i dotepencu srce zvoni,od Njega nigdo nije vec sem horvatzki kral evi!Ti sjaji moj Grade jos 900 l et ,nek popevaju p esme o Tebi,budi topli kak zagorska kl et,moj Zagreb zivi vu meni!RUJAN NA RABUCujem, kliktaj galeba izmijesan s mirisomMediterana.Rujan se mreska na povrsini mora,u sve kracem danu sve manje vremenaocutjeti ljepotu.Rab odise mirom i u tom mirupronalazim sama sebe, ne trazecini slike ohladnjela Zagreba.Prevaren godinama polazaka i dolazakavise i ne razumijem sto je odlazak.Jednostavno, sve je tu,neogranicen prostor, bez vremena, mjeseca,ni tjedna, ni dana, ni sata.Ustaljen sam u sreci, premda,nista sto me okruzuje nije dio igre na srecu,uspjela replika Raja u kojem Rab razlicit je tek u jednom slovu.Ne zamaram se sadasnjicom,izbjegavam sve te zivotne kategorizacije.Ne bjezim, daleko od toga;zanemarujem nepotreban ljudski zidpred prirodnim,i ako moram nesto ocekivati,mozda je to jednostavnost,savrsenstvo oblika bez ikakvadodatna uresa,poput naga tijela sto stoji pod tusem,ili pak boja otoka u ranojesenskoj kisi.Trenutak kad dan izgubi svoju svjetlost,sve utihnu i nestade bas poputcedna djeteta pod pokrivacem.Zazelis laku noc svemiru,a Rab, u mirisu ozonausnut ce u meni.URazvrstane u nesvrstane,odjenute u neodjenute,obmanute u neobmanute,zbrinute u nezbrinute,maknute u smaknute.Jauk u bauk,vijesti u sjesti,prevedi u neredi,odmjeri u promjeri,ficukni u umukni!Smisli u pokisni,nulti u multi,vrijedno u bezvrijedno,auto u automat,arak u jarak,prag u Haag!Bijesni u svjesni,casni u krasni,jasni u masni,prasni u rasni,i macka u  rvacka!KRATAK ZIVOTOPIS:Rodjen 2. 1. 1973. u Zagrebu.Zavrsio Komercijalnu skolu. Studira na Fakultetu politickih znanosti.Objavljivao u  Hrvatskom knjizevnom listu (1994.-2000.),  Ognjistu (1991.-2000.) i  Usponima (1998.-). Od 2001., postao stalni suradnik u internet casopisu na stranici www.avia.croadria.com  (Za bolji zivot -  Sutra  ) i na www.poezijaonline.com  adresa: Side Kosutic 4, 10090 Zagrebe-mail: kresimir.butkovic@hi.hinet.hr brzoglas: 345-7977 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 22 Jan 2003 07:00:00 +0000