Więzień historii
Prisoner of History

Summary/Abstract: The article is a personal reflection by Charles Simic, who recalls his childhood spent in Belgrade and his later emigration to New York. The author describes his early years, which coincided with World War II, a time when life in Belgrade was dominated by bombings and chaos. Despite the dramatic events, Simic remembers joyful moments of childhood, playing with peers, unaware of the tragedies in the surrounding world. After the war, Simic's family emigrates to the United States, where the author grapples with a new reality, language barriers, and adaptation challenges. Despite initial uncertainties, he finds space for literary creativity in America, particularly in poetry, which becomes his passion. Through years of working in various jobs, Simic develops his poetic work and eventually finds his place in American literature. He also addresses the theme of identity, the influence of the past on his writing, and the role of poetry in an individual's life. His experiences as an immigrant, along with his observations about war and violence, shape his sensitivity and way of perceiving the world. The article reflects on how poetry and literature can respond to the complexity of human experience, as well as the value of discovering truth in both historical and personal contexts.

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