Izet Sarajlić was born on March 16, 1930 in Doboj. He was named after his grandfather, who was an officer during the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. He spent his childhood in Trevinje and Dubrovnik, and in 1945 he settles down in Sarajevo where he remained living until the end of his life, in 2002.
Sarajlić attended the Boys’ Gymnasium in Sarajevo. He entered the world of Yugoslav poetry as a 19-year-old, with a collection of poems “U susretu”. During studies at the Faculty of Philosophy in Sarajevo, Sarajlić was working as a journalist and he never stopped writing.
Sarajlić was a member of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Association of Intellectuals Krug 99. He published over 30 books of poetry, some of which are translated to 15 languages. About the Sarajevo war poetry collection, the poet said:
“This is the only poetry collection I wish I never wrote”.
Izet Sarajlić believed he belongs to the 20th century. Thus, when the 21st century arrived, Sarajlić marked the dates on letters he wrote to his friends in a way characteristic for him: 1999+1, 1999+2 and so on. By reading his poetry, one can realize that the death of his brother Ešo, who was executed in 1942, and the meeting with Ida Kalas Milkica, his life companion, are the two strongest poet’s life experiences.
Elegy as the most distinctive trait of Sarajlić’s emotionality, his view of life in general and love as an unavoidable leitmotif often point to Esenin’s romantic poetry. Love reaches its full affirmation in every Sarajlić’s poem. Wide openness and love of the world reflect from each one of his verses.
Izet Kiko Sarajlić passed away on May 2, 2002 in Sarajevo.
(Source: faktor.ba)
