Emina (poem)

Emina is a well-known poem written by Bosnian Serb poet Aleksa Šantić in 1903. It is considered one of the most beloved and enduring love poems in Bosnian and Serbian literature.

The poem tells the story of the poet's admiration and unrequited love for a beautiful young woman named Emina. It describes her beauty, grace, and purity through vivid imagery and metaphorical language, painting a picture of idealised feminine beauty.

"Emina" is characterised by its lyrical quality, its use of traditional poetic forms, and its emotional depth. The poem is written in the sevdalinka style, a traditional Bosnian genre of melancholic love songs, giving it a distinctly Bosnian cultural flavour.

The poem's lasting popularity stems from its timeless themes of beauty, love, and longing. Its accessibility and emotional resonance have made it a favourite across generations, and it continues to be recited and interpreted in various artistic forms. It has been set to music numerous times, becoming a popular song performed by many artists throughout the Balkans. The poem's central figure, Emina, has become a symbol of feminine beauty and a cultural icon in the region.