Thank you Darya for sharing these must reads. Poetry has a way of invoking imagery and connecting emotions which go exponentially beyond the character count of words on the page.
Thank you, Darya! Once again, I am moved to tears. Thank you for helping me see and hear the people of Ukraine through your eyes and ears, and to join my heart with your heart and their hearts.
Thank you for sharing those poems Darya. I liked them all but the first one was so good, it took my breath away. I have read about the book by Victoria Amelina (and the last poem - so short and sharp, absolutely on point) - will order it from my local bookshop so they are aware of it and hopefully order more.
The one by Sagaydak is truly timeless. It is hard to reconcile our claims of civility and humanity with the overt and covert barbarism that has endured across the globe for so long.
It is particularly disheartening when such disregard for human dignity and values is perpetuated by democratic systems—when people are treated like pawns, as if life were a game of chess, their existence reduced to mere pieces in the service of greed and power.
“Never let a barbarian on your doorstep “; we put one in our highest office. Now all of us pay the price for those of us who do not think. Not my president! Thank you for the beautiful poetry.
Thank you for sharing this! As a Ukrainian raised in America by American parents, I am doing what I can to learn of the history and writing of Ukraine.
I have family members in Ukraine in the war zone. It is a tragedy for us all.
If there is a silver lining in the Russians' barbaric invasion of Ukraine, it is that Ukrainians are more clearly distinguished from Russians, whether in culture or ethics.
There is no silver lining. There was always a difference between Ukraine and the invaders. Maybe Westerners didn’t know this because we weren’t paying attention.
Thank you Darya for sharing these must reads. Poetry has a way of invoking imagery and connecting emotions which go exponentially beyond the character count of words on the page.
Here is one from these American times (which I shared in a Substack Post https://marklagus.substack.com/p/shame-on-us?r=1tggo9)
Squandered Inheritance
We have bade farewell
To the generation whose banners
Hang from every utility pole
In every town
Who knew that ‘Never Again’
Should have meant ‘Never Again’
Whether at home or abroad,
Who simply did that
Which had to be done,
And for whom this shit
Too closely resembles that shit
They fought against.
They have moved on taking
Their knowledge with them leaving
In charge generations too weak and careless
To save themselves let alone the world.
Edvard Aunapuu
Thank you, Mark!
Thank you, Darya! Once again, I am moved to tears. Thank you for helping me see and hear the people of Ukraine through your eyes and ears, and to join my heart with your heart and their hearts.
🙏💙🇺🇦💛🙏
Thank you, Bill!
Thank you for sharing those poems Darya. I liked them all but the first one was so good, it took my breath away. I have read about the book by Victoria Amelina (and the last poem - so short and sharp, absolutely on point) - will order it from my local bookshop so they are aware of it and hopefully order more.
Thank you, Tanya!
Thanks for sharing these poems.
The one by Sagaydak is truly timeless. It is hard to reconcile our claims of civility and humanity with the overt and covert barbarism that has endured across the globe for so long.
It is particularly disheartening when such disregard for human dignity and values is perpetuated by democratic systems—when people are treated like pawns, as if life were a game of chess, their existence reduced to mere pieces in the service of greed and power.
I agree!
“Never let a barbarian on your doorstep “; we put one in our highest office. Now all of us pay the price for those of us who do not think. Not my president! Thank you for the beautiful poetry.
Thank you, Valerie!
Brilliant
Thank you.
Thank you for sharing this! As a Ukrainian raised in America by American parents, I am doing what I can to learn of the history and writing of Ukraine.
I have family members in Ukraine in the war zone. It is a tragedy for us all.
Thank you, Iryna! I hope your family members will stay safe!
Darya, thank you for sharing these poems.
If there is a silver lining in the Russians' barbaric invasion of Ukraine, it is that Ukrainians are more clearly distinguished from Russians, whether in culture or ethics.
Thank you! Ukrainians have always been different from Russians. The current invasion showed it to the world.
There is no silver lining. There was always a difference between Ukraine and the invaders. Maybe Westerners didn’t know this because we weren’t paying attention.
Absolutely!
I can't disagree with that, hence my original qualification.