Din Mehmeti

Din Mehmeti was born in 1932 in the village of Gjocaj, near Gjakova, Kosovo. He studied Albanian language and literature at the University of Belgrade. He later lectured at the teacher training college in Gjakova. Although he published some prose, literary criticism and a play, he was known primarily for his figurative poetry, which appeared in fifteen volumes between 1961 and 1999. His verse was influenced by the folklore and culture of northern Albania, where he originated from. He used many figures, metaphors and symbols to express his lyrical and restless vision. He also had a realist and ironic streak, inspired by the tradition of Migjeni and Esad Mekuli. His poetic concern was not focused on social criticism or protest, but on artistic creativity and individual experience. His last book, a collection of twenty-eight lyrical poems, was titled Neither on earth nor in heaven. It was divided into five cycles: The heroes of my song, The white beasts, The memory of letters, My boat holds, and Song for myself. [1](^1^) [2](^2^) He was also involved in the Albanian nationalist movement, both in Kosovo and abroad. He founded and edited the magazine Albania, which was the most influential publication of the Albanian diaspora. He also wrote for other Albanian newspapers and journals, such as Dielli and Vatra. He advocated for the independence and unification of Albania, and participated in several international conferences and congresses. He was a friend and mentor of many Albanian writers and intellectuals, such as Fan S. Noli, Gjergj Fishta, and Lasgush Poradeci. He was a vocal critic of the Ottoman Empire, the Balkan states, the Italian occupation, and the communist regime. He died in 2010, in Gjakova, of natural causes. He was 78 years old. He was buried in an unknown grave. [3](^3^) [4](^4^) [5](^5^)