Rebra, kičma—sve su kosti njene

Serbian14 lines1 public analyses
Original Poetry
Translation
Rebra, kičmasve su kosti njene
Ribs, spine—all her bones were weak
Bile slabe, građe oštrekrhke.
and sharply built—fragile.
Srži bjehu njima jadne, l'jene
The marrow in them was poor and lazy—
Tanke bjehu, njene ruke prhke.
her arms were thin and brittle.
Znajuć' sve, i opet videć' jade
Knowing everything, yet seeing the sorrows
Duše, istog takvog čudnog bola,
of the soul, the same strange pain,
Dade sebi trunku lažne nade
she gave herself a bit of false hope
Dok je bila naga nasred stola.
while she was naked on the table.
Jede sebesebe jošte jede,
Eating herself—still eating herself,
Nož joj klizi, preko bl'jede kože
the knife slides over her pale skin—
Oči, prema gore prazno glede,
eyes looking blankly upwards,
Krv da teče, jedva kako može.
blood barely flowing.
Puls joj bješe slab, i tihog tona,
Her pulse was weak and quiet,
Zatim ništabješe mrtva ona.
then nothing—she was dead.
 

Explanation

This poem vividly portrays a scene of physical and emotional fragility. The imagery of weak and fragile bones sets the tone for a deeper exploration of despair and self-destruction. The subject of the poem, possibly a woman, is depicted as being aware of her own suffering and yet clinging to false hope. The act of self-consumption, symbolized by the knife sliding over pale skin, suggests a struggle with inner demons and a sense of hopelessness. The poem culminates in the death of the subject, emphasizing the themes of mortality and the futility of resistance against overwhelming despair. The use of stark and haunting imagery serves to evoke a sense of empathy and reflection on the nature of suffering.

Word Dictionary69

WordIn SerbianIn EnglishPron.
RebrakostribsRe-bra
kičmaleđaspinekichma
svesviallsve
sujesuaresu
kostikostiboneskos-ti
njenenjenhernye-ne
Bilebilawerebi-le
slabeslabweaksla-be
građestrukturabuildgra-dje
oštreoštrinesharposh-tre
krhkelomljivefragilekrh-ke
Sržijezgromarrowsr-zi
bjehubili suwerebje-hu
njimanjihthemnji-ma
jadnetužnepoorjad-ne
ljenelenjelazylje-ne
Tankemršavethintan-ke
rukešakearmsru-ke
prhkekrhkebrittleprh-ke
Znajuć'znajućiknowingzna-yooch
opetponovoagaino-pet
videć'videćiseeingvi-dech
jadeproblemesorrowsya-de
Dušeduhsouldoo-she
istogistogsameis-tog
takvogtakvogsuchtak-vog
čudnogneobičnogstrangechood-nog
bolabolpainbo-la
Dadedalagaveda-de
sebisebeherselfse-bi
trunkumaloshredtrun-ku
lažneneistinitefalsela-zhne
nadeočekivanjahopena-de
Dokdokwhiledok
bilabila jewasbi-la
nagagolanakedna-ga
nasredu srediniin the middlenas-red
stolastotablesto-la
Jedejedeeatingye-de
sebesebeherselfse-be
joštejošstillyosh-te
jedejedeeatingye-de
Nožsečivoknifenozh
jojnjojheryoj
kliziklizislideskli-zi
prekoprekooverpre-ko
bl'jedebledepaleblye-de
kožekožaskinko-zhe
Očipogledeyeso-chi
premakatowardspre-ma
goregoreupwardsgo-re
praznopraznoblanklypraz-no
gledegledajulookinggle-de
Krvkrvbloodkrv
dadatoda
tečetečeflowingte-che
jedvajedvabarelyyed-va
kakokakohowka-ko
možemožecanmo-zhe
Pulspulspulsepuls
bješebila jewasbje-she
slabslabweakslab
iiandi
tihogtihogquietti-hog
tonazvukatoneto-na
Zatimondathenza-tim
ništaništanothingnish-ta
mrtvamrtvadeadmrt-va
onaonasheo-na

Poet & Context

Poet
EraContemporary

The poet of this piece is unknown. Serbian poetry has a rich tradition ranging from medieval epic poetry to contemporary works.

View on Wikipedia
WhenUnknown
WhyThis poem seems to explore themes of fragility, despair, and self-destruction, possibly reflecting personal or societal struggles.
FormFree verse

Themes & More

fragilitydespairself-destructionmortality
imagery: vivid descriptions of physical and emotional statessymbolism: self-consumption as a metaphor for inner turmoilalliteration: repetition of consonant sounds for emphasismetaphor: bones and body parts as symbols of fragility and weakness
Rebra, kičma—sve su kosti njene by Unknown poet — Poem, Translation & Meaning