Poems1

No doubt, prose and verses will be written about events in Ukraine. Some of them will be translated to English (especially those, that fall in line with the Western media's viewpoint). Quite possibly, you'll come across those works. But, while reading them, remember - Donetsk and Luhansk were there first, by many years. Here are verses by Irina Bykovskaya-Vyazovaya, written on 3rd September 2014. They're about the town of Gorlovka (Donetsk republic), which had been repeatedly shelled for many years. Irina is very popular in Donetsk and Luhansk, but, as far as I know, noone's translated her works to English so far

War strikes at the center and the outskirts
Of my Gorlovka, of my turtledove.
At the houses, at the tree branches,
At the wives and the little kids...
War strikes at hopes and dreams,
It hits at the souls with blunt tools of despair,
Turning you into a ruin, a monstrosity,
My Gorlovka, my Motherland.
War hits you to the death, without pity or measure;
It hits you for your truth, and for your faith.
Its fangs hold you by your gentle throat,
My Gorlovka, my sunshine dove.
But the cursed war doesn't realise -
You're beautiful, even crucified.
Your souls burn like a candle in God's sight,
Every one of them, grown-up and child.
We're one family, sharing bread and water,
Sharing common pain and misfortune.
Tortured by days, hours and minutes,
We're Donbass, we're all brothers and sisters.
Our brothers stand fast for each other,
They won't bow to war, won't shatter.
We're losing our life, homes and things,
But we hold on to hope and love.
We believe - Donbass will rebuild,
Will again rest under the blanket of gardens!
And we'll revive, to the last outskirts,
The town of Gorlovka.
Our turtledove soul.

(3rd September 2014)