Živa česma

"Living Fountain" is a posthumously published collection of poems by the prominent Croatian poet, translator, essayist and literary historian Nikola Milićević, published in 1996 (after the author's death in 1999, but composed and prepared in the late phase of his creative work). This collection represents a kind of crown and rounding off Milićević's poetic oeuvre, confirming him as one of the most prominent representatives of the Croatian "Krugovačka" generation. At the heart of this collection are recognizable motifs of Milićević's poetry: the Mediterranean and Dalmatian homeland (Zmijavci/Imotska krajina), childhood, family, nature and a sense of deep connection with ancestors and the land. The title motif of the "living fountain" carries a strong symbolism of the inexhaustible source of life, memory, language and spiritual strength that feeds the individual despite the inexorable flow of time and the inevitability of dying. The poetic language in "Živa česma" is extremely refined, simple and melodious. Milićević avoids formal experiments and opts for a more traditional, harmonic verse and elegiac tone. The collection radiates quiet wisdom, reconciliation with life cycles and deep intimism. Through reflections on old age and transience, the author creates a moving poetic testament that celebrates the durability of fundamental human values ​​and the beauty of the world around us.