Matija Bećković

Matija Bećković (, ; born 29 November 1939) is a Serbian poet, writer and academic.

Life Bećković was born in Senta, in the multiethnic province of Vojvodina (then Danube Banate, Kingdom of Yugoslavia), to a military family of Montenegrin Serbs. Bećković's father Vuk was an officer in the Royal Yugoslav Army, and during World War II the commander of the Rovci Chetnik Battalion and as such, one of the commanders of the leader of the Montenegrin Chetniks, Pavle Đurišić. His father was killed in 1945.

He graduated from the Valjevo Gymnasium in Valjevo in 1958. It was during his gymnasium years in Valjevo that he published his first poem, in the journal 'Mlada Kultura'. Furthermore, it was also in Valjevo that Bećković met Vera Pavladoljska, to whom the poem of the same name, published in 1960, was dedicated. Bećković went on to marry Pavladoljska, and he remained married to her until her death.

Upon graduating from the Valjevo gymnasium, he entered the University of Belgrade, graduating with a degree in Yugoslav and world literature.

His selected words have been published in 15 volumes by Matica srpska in 2024.

Poetic style A distinguishing feature of Bećković's poetry is its regionalism. Distinctly Serbian archaic dialect and phraseology permeate his work. This aspect of his work is most often lost when one reads it in translation.

Awards

Grand Cross of the Order of the White Eagle, 2007 Order of Saint Sava Order of Marko Daković Radoje Domanović Award Marko Miljanov Award, Montenegro Milan Rakić Award Desanka Maksimović Prize Njegoš's Award Marko Miljanov Award, Montenegro Felix Romuliana Award Honorary citizen of Subotica October Award 7th July Award Duško Trifunović Award Vinaver's wreath The Grand Charter of Branko’s Circle

Selected works

Vera Pavladoljska Metak Lutalica Tako je govorio Matija Dr. Janez Paćuka o međuvremenu O međuvremenu ČE: Tragedija koja traje (English: CHE: Permanent Tragedy) Reče mi jedan čoek Međa Vuka Manitoga Lele i kuku Dva sveta Poeme Služba Svetom Savi O Njegošu Kaža Čiji si ti Mali? Nadkokot Služba Sabrane pesme Kosovo najskuplja srpska reč Ćeraćemo se još Kad budem mlađi (Published in English as: When I'm Younger) Misli Bez niđe nikoga Put kojeg nema Služba pustinjaku cetinskom Besede Tri poeme Prahu oca poezije Sto mojih portreta Mojih 80 Crna Gora - ime jedne vere Nigde nikog, nemamo kud (2025) Moj drug Đido (Vukotić Medija, 2025)