Vasko Popa
Poet, editor and translator
A poet of concentrated expression whose distinctive voice helped shape modern Serbian literature.
Born in Grebenac, he had important personal and literary connections with Vršac and the Banat region.
Life and work
Vasko Popa was a leading Serbian poet of the post-war period. His first collection, Kora, published in 1953, introduced a distinctive poetic language built on short lines, powerful images and a creative relationship with oral tradition.
He worked as an editor at Nolit, translated from French and became a corresponding member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts. Translations carried his poetry to readers in many countries.
His connection with Vršac and the surrounding Banat makes him part of this collection, while Grebenac is clearly identified as his birthplace.
What we remember them for
- Kora, his first collection, appeared in 1953.
- Concise verse in dialogue with oral tradition.
- Editor, translator and corresponding academy member.
Sources and further reading
Sources checked: 24.10.2026.
