An unusual poetry evening in Boka

In an unusual setting - on the ship "Katica" in the water area near the island near Gospa od Škrpjela, under a starry sky, the poetry collection "Crta na dlana" by Dr. Vanda Babić, a Tiv woman who lives and works in Zadar as a professor of Croatian studies at the University there, was promoted.

The promotion of the collection, illustrated by the famous Montenegrin artist Dimitrije Popović and his wife Jagoda, was organized by the Tivat Center for Couture as part of the Mediterranean Theater Festival "Purgatory".

The director of CZK, professor Neven Staničić, pointed out that Babić is a specific poet thanks to the combination of her unique character and the professional vocation of a lady of science.

"Completely self-aware of her lived intimacy and our general indifference towards it, Vanda merges those two worlds into one, achieving with her songs that this connection becomes a common place. There are few poets who have succeeded and there are few people who are able to admit to themselves that their intimacy may or may not mean anything. And she offered, aware of what all this can produce," Staničić pointed out.

Journalist, publicist and poet Dragan Popadić emphasized that Vande Babić's poetry is primarily characterized by tenderness.

"In this harsh, harsh and cold world, it's hard for everyone, especially poets. That's why you can't help but be moved by the tenderness in the message of the poet Vanda Babić. It was as if the poet had guessed our thoughts and desires, but we didn't know how to express them so beautifully. There is a lot of sadness around us, a lot of tears, and the poet says: 'Don't let tears turn into words, Don't let sadness turn into songs'. The question of the (lack of) power of words also opens up. How words are capable of expressing our feelings. Words are imperfect. To understand today's world, we use a language that was established for yesterday's world. This entire collection exudes love. Because after everything, Faith, Hope and Love remain - those three. But the most important thing is love - that's what Saint Paul used to sing, and that's what this collection says," said Popadić.

The writer Miraš Martinović points out that this collection made a strong impression on him while he was reading it, still in manuscript. He said that "the best are those songs that are written out of necessity, that are a deep product of the moment, and thus guaranteed eternity."

"Her poems are deep traces of life that left imprints on her soul, written like everyday life for eternity. Honestly, that's why in-depth. Like gnomes carved in time, in stone," Martinović pointed out.

Referring to the unusual environment in which the promotion is held, painter Dimitrije Popović emphasized that "the sea is the nurse of art" and believes that the influence of Boka shaped the beauty of her poetry.

"Thinking about how to artistically shape Wanda's verses, my wife and I artistically articulated what we felt those verses were saying, and how they affected us. The cover is the identity card of the book. I was thinking about how to shape that line on my palm. I thought that hand must be open, honest, with that beautiful Renaissance head, face. That line on the palm is over that hand," Popović concluded.

The woman from Pjensik highlighted her unbreakable attachment to her homeland - Boka and Tivat, to which she always returns with joy.

"Art is what reminds us how transitory we are and how strong we are and how many of us there are and when we are not and when we will not be." Immersed in the colors of love, this is exactly what we have to do. Sharing in a million beauties, hugs, good wishes. There is too much of the other, envy and pity," said Babić.

Jelena Božović spoke the verses.