Ivan V. Lalić (1931–1996) was a Serbian poet, translator, and literary editor. He was the husband of Branka Lalić and the father of Vlajko and Marko Lalić. Born in Belgrade to Ljubica (née Bajić) and Vlajko Lalić, and grandson of composer Isidor Bajić, he spent his early years surrounded by both war and cultural richness. His childhood was shaped by the bombing of Belgrade during World War II and the death of his mother from tuberculosis in 1946—events that would leave lasting marks on the themes of grief, memory, and loss throughout his poetry.

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In 1946, the family relocated to Zagreb, where his mother was treated by Dr. Stjepan Kašnar. There, Ivan met Branka Kašnar, who would remain a central inspiration in his life and work. They married in 1954. The couple moved to Belgrade in 1961, where Ivan served as Secretary of the Yugoslav Writers’ Union and later as an editor at Nolit publishing house.

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Lalić’s poetry is shaped by personal memory, history, and the landscapes around him. Branka was his lifelong inspiration—he once described her as “the spirit behind my poems.” Places like Kalemegdan, the Adriatic coast, and especially Rovinj appear often in his work, along with themes of nature, time, and nostalgia. In A Rusty Needle, for example, the memory of fallen schoolmates is held in the image of a decaying pine needle, fragile yet enduring—both artifact and wound.

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Lalić published eleven collections of poetry in Serbian, with translations into multiple languages. His work received numerous literary awards, including the Zmaj Award, Nolit Prize, Branko Miljković Award, Vasko Popa Award, and the Žiča Charter. His poetry was translated into English by Charles Simić and Francis R. Jones, and a forthcoming collection of previously unpublished works is being prepared by Jones. Recent translation efforts led by Branka and their granddaughter Ana include his cycle Ten Sonnets for My Unborn Daughter.