The Relativity of Time and Space in the Croatian Poet Nikola Šop and the Slovenian Poet Gregor Strniša

Dva pjesnika, hrvatski Nikola Šop (1904.-1982.) i slovenski Gregor Strniša (1930.–1987.) – premda ih razlikuje pripadnost epohi i miljeu – imaju zajednički nazivnik: obojica su metafizički pjesnici i, u toj pjesničkoj dimenziji, obojica se bave relativnošću vremena i prostora, to jest vremenitošću i bezvremenošću, prostornošću i besprostornošću, koje nisu ništa drugo nego sinonimi za pojmove ljudskog i božanskog. Obojicu pjesnika dubinski motivira traganje za Posljednjom Istinom. U Šopa ta potreba vuče porijeklo iz njegove osobne tragedije, iz strahovite nesreće koja ga je onesposobila na gotovo trideset godina života i duboko mu obilježila vjeru, nagnavši ga da traga za Bogom novim putovima teologije, filozofije i kozmologije. Strnišin je pristup metafizičkom problemu kontroliraniji, nastaje iz potreba racionalnog i intelektualnog karaktera. To je bjelodano i iz načina na koji se dva pjesnika približavaju Einsteinovoj misli: Šop se približava Einsteinovu modelu svemira isključivo putem vlastite pjesničke intuicije, dok ga Strniša otvoreno preispituje u svojoj prozi, poput one naslovljene Relativnostna pesnitev, u kojoj se prvenstveno usredotočuje na problem pjesničkoga stvaranja.Although the epochs and milieus they belong to differ, the Croatian poet Nikola Šop (1904–1982) and the Slovenian poet Gregor Strniša (1930–1987) share a common denominator – both are metaphysical poets and, in respect of this poetic dimension, they both tackle the relativity of time and space, i.e. temporality and timelessness, and spatiality and spacelessness, which are nothing other than synonyms for the concepts of human and divine. Both poets are profoundly motivated by the search for the Final Truth. In Šop this need stems from his personal tragedy, from a horrendous accident that disabled him for almost three decades and deeply impressed his faith, having driven him to seek God on the paths of theology, philosophy and cosmology. On the other hand, Strniša’s approach to metaphysical issues is somewhat more controlled, and issues from the needs of his rational and intellectual character. This is also evident in the fashion in which the two poets approach Einstein’s thought: Šop nears Einstein’s model of universe exclusively through his own poetic intuition, while Strniša openly reflects on it in his prose, as in his Relativnostna pesnitev (Relative Poetry), in which he primarily centres on the problem of poetic creation