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Fit for a Falcon: Croatian Poetry at It’s Best

I recently found an interesting poem on YouTube. It is of interest to me since it bears my surname. The poem, of course, has been known to me for years and is simply entitled Marko Ćurković. The poem was first published by the legendary Croatian monk, Andrija Kačić-Miošić (1704-1760), in his book of folk poetry, entitled Razgovor ugodni naroda slovinskoga (Pleasant Conversations of the Slavic People). His work was first published in 1754 and soon became a popular classic across Europe, interweaving elements of Croatian folk poetry and history. It also arguably ranks second, next to the Bible, as the most widely read Croatian book in history.

Historically, we have no evidence that this particular Marko Ćurković ever existed. However, the setting of this poem takes place during the period between 1714-1718 in the Cetina River Valley near Sinj, an area where the Ćurković family was known to have lived near during this time. This time period can be confirmed since Kačić describes the war in this poem as the Small War (rata Malenoga). This war is also known as the Sinj War (Sinjski rat) and the Venetian-Turkish War.

Regardless of the name, this war was one of the more well known and defining moments in Croatian history. The Ottomans were repelled and the town of Sinj was never again attacked.

This main character and hero in this song is a shepherd named Marko Ćurković. He is described in simple terms as a shepherd (čoban) and the son of a Cetina Vlach (Cetinka Vlahinja). Much like the falcon, he is also described as a member of a heroic family (na sokola roda junačkoga), a common Slavic reference when describing people of heroic character.

This poem is a unique piece of work. Kačić dedicates his full attention to one hero as opposed to many heroes he regularly mentions in other poems throughout his book.

This particular poem also includes two antagonists: Aso Dizdarević and Ibro Agićević, two members of the Ottoman army stationed in Livno (in Bosnia-Hercegovina). They plan to lead a small band of troops over the Dinaric Alps (specifically a mountain called Prolog located on the Bosnian side of the border) and into the Cetina River Valley.

During their trip, they encounter Marko Ćurković, a shepherd tending his white sheep. It appears that Ibro recognized Marko from a previous battle and wanted to settle a score with him. Ibro takes his gun and shoots at Marko. The shot misses its target and Marko warns them to choose “going with God instead of losing their heads” (pođi s Bogom, a ne gubi glave). Ibro ignores Marko’s warnings and aims to kill Marko again. However, Marko makes good on his threat, aiming at Ibro with his gun at killing him with one shot.

When Ibro’s compatriot, Aso, saw this, he too attempts to kill Marko. But Marko quickly fires off a shot at Aso before he even has a chance. The bullet hits Aso in the shoulder, knocking him swiftly to the ground.

Unfortunately for the hero of our story, his failure to kill the Turk is his great misfortune (Evo pobre, velike nevolje). Poor Marko is quickly encircled by the remaining Ottoman troops who easily put an end to his life, highlighted by the hero’s head being chopped off (Ćurkoviću glavu odsikoše), as was the custom in those days.

Here is the video (I use this term loosely) of the poem narrated in Croatian. I have placed the verses below. If you can read Croatian, feel free to follow along.

Feel free to view to view Kačić-Miošić’s entire book, Razgovor ugodni naroda slovinskoga, at:

http://www.sss-makarska.hr/spisi/velikani/kacic/razgovor.htm.