BRNO Poetické

... or connecting poetry with geography. How to get around? You might simply set off from the Brno map and treat yourself to a kind of virtual poetic promenade; equally you might look around via the individual poets; and as a third option via the list of place names.

In 1936 the well known literary historian Arne Novák posited that in terms of literary importance Brno did not have much to offer. Moreover – he claimed that Brno had no lyric poets. All this apparently because “it lacks the more copious presence and amicable complicity of that most melodic of elements – water”. So, without a proper river, you can’t get decent lyric poetry. Arne Novák died in 1939. Had he been granted another two years, he would hardly have made such a statement. Not that Brno had landed a new and major river, but it did gain a poet. And not just any old poet, a paean unto itself. The poet was Ivan Blatný and the song of praise his Melancholické procházky (Melancholy walks) (1941). At the very least, from this date on we have to speak of Brno as a poetic city. There is nothing for it, after the publication of Melancholy walks no one may cast aspersions on Brno any more. Blatný showed just how much was slumbering in the setting of this “Moravian Manchester” or humble “Vienna suburb”. With his verse, he addressed the city, and more. He eulogized it.

What are we aiming to do here? To show what poetic potential is to be found in this city; and the many poets and poetic styles dedicated to Brno and its retreats over the years. The poets who wrote in Czech and German; those intrinsically linked with Brno through their lives and works, as well as those just brushing up against it in passing; authors who have long passed away, as well as those still living here. By using an interactive map, we seek to identify and show these places and link the respective poems to them.

So much for the first phase – on the web. The second phase will go to the sites themselves and set out the verses on inscribed panels; the aim being, that what these places have given to poetry should be returned – with poetic interest – back to them. This phase began on June 23, 2016 by installing the first panel (with the poem of Ivan Blatný) in Brno-Maloměřice.

How to get around? There is a three-tier structure here: places on the map link to the poems they have inspired, and the poems link – for the benefit of those wanting to know more – to the poets, their cameo biographies. You might simply set off from the Brno map and treat yourself to a kind of virtual poetic promenade; equally you might look around via the individual poets; and as a third option via the list of place names.

Jiří Trávníček and Michal Fránek, project authors,
Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Czech Literature, in cooperation with František Schildberger

27.06.2018

Divišova čtvrť
Odkaz na báseň

Divišova čtvrť, souběh ulic Divišovy a Trtílkovy, pan starosta městské části Brno-sever Martin Maleček (a malý pomocník)

13.06.2018

Svitava
Odkaz na báseň

Svitava, u splavu, poblíž fotbalového hřiště SK Obřany

09.06.2018

Lesná
Odkaz na báseň

Lesná (mezi Okružní a Slavíčkovou), odhalení panelu za účasti básníka (vpravo)

08.06.2018

Lesná (Čertova rokle)
Odkaz na báseň

Čertova rokle, dole, u dětského hřiště

31.05.2018

Černá Pole
Odkaz na báseň

pobočka Knihovny Jiřího Mahena, Černá Pole, nám. SNP

24.04.2018

Slovanské náměstí
Odkaz na báseň

Budova gymnázia na Slovanském náměstí 7, odhalení panelu za účasti básníka Víta Slívy (vpravo)

11.12.2017

Mahenova 8
Odkaz na báseň

Mahenův památník (Mahenova 8)

30.11.2017

Královo Pole
Odkaz na báseň

pobočka Knihovny Jiřího Mahena v Brně-Králově Poli, Palackého 164, odhalení panelu

25.10.2017

Žebětín
Odkaz na báseň

pobočka Knihovny Jiřího Mahena v Brně-Žebětíně, Křivánkovo nám. 35, odhalení panelu za účasti básníka (vlevo)

04.09.2017

Medlánky
Odkaz na báseň

Medlánky, pobočka Knihovny Jiřího Mahena v Brně (areál Sýpka), Kytnerova 4a

29.08.2017

Lesná
Odkaz na báseň

Lesná, poblíž autobusové zastávky Třískalova (ve směru do města)

14.07.2017

Hády
Odkaz na báseň

Hády, pod lomem a nad lamí farmou, výhled na Maloměřice

14.07.2017

Maloměřice-Obřany
Odkaz na báseň

Maloměřice-Obřany, budova základní školy, Hamry 12

14.07.2017

Obřany
Odkaz na báseň

Obřany, Kostel sv. Václava, schody

14.07.2017

Maloměřice-Obřany
Odkaz na báseň

Maloměřice, dům básníka Josefa Suchého, Hamry 21

12.07.2017

Maloměřice (u splavu)
Odkaz na báseň

Maloměřice (u splavu), poblíž Franzovy ulice

28.06.2017

Komín
Odkaz na báseň

pobočka Knihovny Jiřího Mahena v Brně-Komíně, Vavřinecká 13, odhalení panelu

22.06.2017

Lesná (kaple sv. Antonína)
Odkaz na báseň

Lesná, kaple sv. Antonína, pod Loosovou ulicí

20.04.2017

Tuřany
Odkaz na báseň

pobočka Knihovny Jiřího Mahena v Brně-Tuřanech, Tuřanské nám 1, odhalení panelu

08.12.2016

Jundrov
Odkaz na báseň

pobočka Knihovny Jiřího Mahena v Brně-Jundrově, Veslařská 56, odhalení panelu

31.10.2016

Brno
Odkaz na báseň

Knihovna Jiřího Mahena, ústřední budova (chodba), Kobližná 4, odhalování panelů

31.10.2016

Brno
Odkaz na báseň

Knihovna Jiřího Mahena, ústřední budova (chodba), Kobližná 4, ze slavnostního odlahelení panelů

31.10.2016

Brno
Odkaz na báseň

Knihovna Jiřího Mahena, ústřední budova (chodba), Kobližná 4

31.10.2016

Kobližná
Odkaz na báseň

Knihovna Jiřího Mahena, ústřední budova (chodba), Kobližná 4

23.06.2016

Maloměřice
Odkaz na báseň

pobočka Knihovny Jiřího Mahena v Brně-Maloměřicích, Selská 16

Ivan Blatný

Poet, son of the writer Lev Blatný (1894-1930). Born in Brno, he spent the first part of his life here – before escaping into exile in 1948. He lived in a house...

František Halas

Poet, translator and publicist, Brno born, spent his childhood and youth here. He learned the bookseller’s trade from A. Píša and for a brief period (1919–1921)...

Oldřich Mikulášek

Poet and publicist. Lived in Brno from 1937 until his death, latterly at Mášova street. He is linked to several cultural institutions (the Brno studios of Czechoslovak...

Jaroslav Seifert

Poet, publicist, memoirist. The first – and so far the only Czech to receive the Nobel prize for Literature. In addition to the lasting popularity he won through...

Jan Skácel

Poet, writer, editor and translator. Spent most of his life in Brno and is closely linked to a number of Brno cultural institutions (the magazine Host do domu...

Vít Slíva

Poet and schoolteacher. His connection to Brno dates back to his university days. Apart from one interlude, he has been living to this day at Poděbradova street....