The book "The Pain of the World" by Sasa Milivojev is a poetic masterpiece that delves into the essence of human suffering and trauma worldwide. This second, expanded edition - presented exclusively in English - explores not only the pain of individuals but also the collective suffering of humanity. Milivojev's poetry is not just a reflection of reality but also a catalyst for change: a call for empathy, understanding, and action in creating a better world. Through this collection, he reminds us of our common humanity and responsibility towards all who suffer, emphasizing the importance of dialogue and solidarity as a path to true understanding and healing.
Sasa Milivojev is a famous writer, poet, journalist, columnist, and political analyst. One of the most read columnists in Serbia, he is the author of seven books and numerous columns published in various daily newspapers. He is the author of the novels "The Boy from the Yellow House", "Echo of a Nuclear Bomb", "Love and Death in Dubai", and the collection of columns "Journalist of Resistance", as well as political speeches. His work has been translated into around twenty languages across the world. In an interview with the weekly "Express," Sasa Milivojev reveals details of the themes in "The Pain of the World"
How would you characterize the new poetry collection "The Pain of the World"?
"A poet has no right to beautify reality but to be an honest witness of the times. It is easy to write about beautiful nature, the sound of the sea, birds on the branch, fairy-tale beaches, and violets, but... Life is not a fairy tale. If we keep silent about horrific crimes, they will be repeated in the future. As a poet, I feel obliged to explore and express reality as it is, without beautifying or avoiding those parts that are painful or unpleasant. My poetry is not just a reflection of reality, but a call to action - a call for compassion, understanding, and engagement in creating a better world for all of us.
Although it is depressing, terrifying, heavy, a horror story, I hope that readers will find their place in these verses, that they will be emotionally struck and inspired to think about broader social and philosophical issues, to think about what each of us can do to change the world we live in. 'The Pain of the World' is a work that strives to connect people and encourage dialogue about universal themes that affect us all, regardless of our different life circumstances. I want 'The Pain of the World' to be an experience that will leave a lasting impression and inspire people to view the world from different perspectives.
People need to be served all these images of a terrible world, in the hope that by observing such images we will want to change something, to become better people. This is a way to evoke empathy and compassion for all people going through difficult times. The concept of Weltschmerz denotes a feeling of melancholy and sadness that arises from the awareness of the world's imperfections and the incompatibility between reality and idealism. The title 'The Pain of the World' reflects a sense of deep suffering and disappointment about the state of the world. It points to the depth of emotional experience that readers can expect in the book. 'The Pain of the World' suggests themes concerning trauma. My poetry is not just a personal cry, a personal pain, but a collective one, a cry of all people on the planet who feel sorrow, helplessness, and anger because of the injustice or suffering that the world experiences. The concept of 'The Pain of the World' reminds us of our interconnectedness and responsibility towards others and the importance of solidarity and active engagement in solving problems that affect people around the world. This is a universal human epic about the sufferings of people."
