SPLETNA TRGOVINA

LEVSTIK AWARD

The Levstik Award for Lifetime Achievements in Children’s Literature (Writing)




Dane Zajc

10/26/1929 ✝ 10/20/2005

Dane Zajc wrote not only poetry for both children and adults but also plays (including puppet shows), fairy-tales and essays. Although his poems for grown-ups are considered difficult and serious, his children’s poetry is gentle and cheerful. Some of his poems for young readers have been practically turned into folk literature. Other poems drew heavily on pre-existing illustrations, where an image inspired the poet to portray it using words.

The Door
Behind the big door, there is another door. Behind this other door, there is another door. A smaller one. Behind the smaller door, there is another door. An even smaller one. Behind the even smaller door, there is the smallest door. The smallest one. Behind the smallest door, there is another door. It is a tiny door. Behind the tiny door, there is a garden. In the garden, there is a smaller garden. In the smaller garden, there is an even smaller garden. In the even smaller garden, there is the smallest garden. In the smallest garden, there is the tiniest garden ever. In the tiniest garden ever, there is a flower. Just one, fragrant. This flower is for you. The biggest and the loveliest.