This epic poem describes the grief of Yugoslavs over the death of <PERSON> · Global Voices
<PERSON> book, “A Nation of Immigrants”, on a bookshelf. Photo by author.
An epic poem written in 1965 expressing the grief of Yugoslavs over the assassination of United States President <PERSON> was posted on Twitter by a historian last November 2018, which reminded many of the close relations between the former Yugoslavia and the United States during the Cold War era.
<PERSON>, а PHD candidate at George Washington University, tweeted about an epic poem titled “Death in Dallas” which reflected the popularity of <PERSON> in Yugoslavia.
#<PERSON> ‘s death shocked Yugoslavia. A folk song commemorated the fallen hero:
На­ша Вла­да и Из­вр­шно вје­ће
бол­но сво­је ша­љу са­ву­че­шће.
На пол ко­пља све на­ше за­ста­ве,
свуд су бо­ли из­ра­же­не пра­ве.
При­ја­те­ља не­ста Ке­не­ди­ја,
жа­ли­ла га сва на­ша на­ци­ја pic.twitter.com/LHAhRhbIGf
— <PERSON> (@LazicMilorad) November 22, 2018
#<PERSON> ‘s death shocked Yugoslavia. 260
A folk song commemorated the fallen hero:
[Lyrics translation – they rhyme in original]
Our government and Federal Executive Council
full of sadness send their sympathy.
All our flags are at half mast,
everywhere people express true grief.
Our friend <PERSON> is gone,
our whole nation mourns.
The epic poem narrates some of the events leading to the assassination
“Death in Dallas”described the drama on 11/22/63:
Tek što prođe <PERSON>
a gusarska snajperka opali.
S lica nesta razdraganog smješka
tragedija dogodi se teška
Prvi metak <PERSON>
ne sluteći šta se sve događa
Žena kriknu: ubiše mi muža!
<PERSON> poteče po buketu ruža #JFK pic.twitter.com/UvRGNtxjAR
— <PERSON> (@LazicMilorad) November 23, 2018
“Death in Dallas”described the drama on 11/22/63:
As they passed through the underpass
villain's sniper rifle started shooting.
The gleeful smile disappeared
as the hard tragedy unfolded.
The first bullet struck <PERSON>
with a dark surprise for everybody.
The wife cried out “They've killed my husband!”
as his blood flew over her bouquet of roses.
The full 17 minutes of the epic poem sung by <PERSON>, an ethnic Croatian singer from Herzegovina, released as 7″ single record by Zagreb company Jugoton in 1965, is available online in several YouTube versions.
Epic poetry in Balkan culture
Oral epic poetry, or the retelling of the deeds of mythical beings and heroes in long verse form, has been a trademark of the cultures of the Balkan peoples since the time of <PERSON> who wrote Iliad and Odyssey. In the 19th century the poetry of the South Slavic peoples received much attention by Western scientists as a living embodiment of ancient practices that had vanished in the rest of Europe. Many of the folk singers sung their rhyming tales of resistance to invaders accompanied with a one-string musical instrument called gusla or gusle in the manner of medieval bards.
The tradition continued well into the 20th century in the mountainous parts of Montenegro, Serbia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. After World War II it became part of Yugoslav pop culture, as folk music enjoyed revival through the development of vinyl record industry. 260