Poet Profile

Enes Kišević

Poet and an actor, Enes Kišević is a member of the Croatian Writer's Association and The Association of the Dramatic Artist, Zagreb. He has published over 20 collections of poetry in more than 20 languages. He takes part in countless tribunals, conferences, and promotions of poetry. As a freelance actor, he has acted in all Zagreb's theatres and has done 25 seasons at the Dubrovnik Summer Festival. He publishes forewords, essays, and reviews on haiku poetry and has been a selector at haiku contests. His poetry has been published in more than 40 joint collections and anthologies in Croatia and abroad.

Awards and Other Honors: Zvonimir Golob Award [for poem Moja ljubav] (2003); Honorable Mention – Mainichi Haiku Contest (2009); A Special Prize - 2007 Genkissu! Spirits Up! World Wide Hekinan Haiku Contest, English Haiku (2007); a haiku was selected for inclusion in William J. Higginson's Haiku World, An International Poetry Almanac (Kodansha International, 1996); his work also appears in the following collections: 100 Croatian Haiku [An anthology for the Haiku Cards Game] (DHHP: Zagreb, 2000); Marijan Čekolj: Haiku iz rata/War Haiku (HHP, Samobor 1995); Marijan Čekolj and Marinko Španović: Otvoren put/Free Road: Antologija hrvatske haiku poezije [Croatian Haiku anthology] (Hrvatsko haiku društvo: Samobor, 1999); World Haiku No. 6, World Haiku Association (2010); Vladimir Devidé: Antologija hrvatskoga haiku pjesništva [An Anthology of Croatian Haiku Poetry – in Croatian only] (Naklada P.I.P Pavičić: Zagreb, 1996).

Books Published: Zelene Piramide/Green Pyramids (Prometej: Zagreb, 2008); Mladić nosi svoje prve pjesme na ogled (Spektar: Zagreb 1974); Sve mirim te svijete (CKD SSO: Zagreb, 1976); Mačak u trapericama (Školska knjiga: Zagreb, 1979) [three editions]; Mačak u trapericama (Veselin Masleša i Svjetlost: Sarajevo, 1990); Mačak u trapericama (Svjetlost: Sarajevo 1999) [two editions]; I ništa te kao ne boli (IKRO Mladost: Zagreb, 1980); Ne ogledalo, lice umij (Školska knjiga: Zagreb, 1983); Due pozzi Verdi (La sfinga: Napoli, 1983); Erosa sjeme (Književne novine: Beograd 1986); Smjehuljica i Plačuljko (IROS: Zagreb, 1986); Lampa u zoru (self edition: Zagreb, 1987); Djed Mraz i Baka Mrazica (Dani dječje radosti, SDNDH: Zagreb, 1987); Čudostvorac (Centar za kulturu “Vladimir Nazor”: Sisak, 1990); Veseli sat (TIZ-Zrinski: Čakovec, 1990); Jutarnja molitva (Mladinska knjiga: Zagreb, 1990); Sijeda djeca (Hrvatska liga za mir: Zagreb, 1992); Snijeg u očima – choice (TIZ-Zrinski: Čakovec, 1993); Havino preklinjanje (Micro Offset: Oslo, 1995); Djeca su druga polovica duge (Gradska knjižnica “Juraj Šižgorić” and Šibensko kazalište: Šibenik, 1999); Ljubavna harfa /choice of poetry (Preporod: Sarajevo, 2002); Svjetlost je tvoja sjena (self edition: Zagreb, 2003); KOKA KOKONE (Profil: Zagreb, 2004); Voda je moja Mati (Profil: Zagreb, 2008); Busen Bosne (Zrinski d. d.: Čakovec - BKUD "Sevdah": Zagreb, 2009); Riječi vraćene kući (Kulturno društvo Bošnjaka Hrvatske Preporod: Zagreb, 2009).

The wind has crept
into the bones of a mole,
into the stars' veins.

A deserted country road.
in the tracks of cattle
birds’ watering places.

The Moon and my cat
dozing on a stone doorstep
warmed by the Sun.

Look, a fish skeleton
planted by the river:
poplar in the Autumn.

In the same shirt
boy and wind take a walk
by a rough sea.

Watching the news about BiH*
all that bothers her
is snow on the screen.
* Bosnia and Herzegovina

Credits: "The wind has crept" - 100 Croatian Haiku [An anthology for the Haiku Cards Game] (DHHP: Zagreb, 2000); "The Moon and my cat" - World Haiku No. 6 (World Haiku Association, 2010); "In the same shirt" - A Special Prize - 2007 Genkissu! Spirits Up! World Wide Hekinan Haiku Contest, English Haiku (2007); "A deserted country road." - Vladimir Devidé: Antologija hrvatskoga haiku pjesništva [An Anthology of Croatian Haiku Poetry] (Naklada P.I.P. Pavičić: Zagreb, 1996); "Look, a fish skeleton" - Vladimir Devidé: Hrvatski haiku '96. Književna smotra, Godina/Year XXVIII/1996, No. 100 (2); "Watching the news about BiH" - William J. Higginson: Haiku World, An International Poetry Almanac (Kodansha International, 1996).