200th anniversary Taras Shevchenko
Taras Shevchenko (1814-1861) has a unique place in Ukrainian cultural history.Shevchenko's poetry contributed greatly to the growth of Ukrainian national consciousness, and his influence on various facets of Ukrainian intellectual, literary, and national life is still felt to this day. Influenced by Romanticism, Shevchenko managed to find his own manner of poetic expression that encompassed themes and ideas germane to Ukraine and his personal vision of its past and future.He was a vocal proponent of the Ukrainian national idea which made the Russians place him in exile and even during Soviet times, the official position was to downplay strong Ukrainian nationalism expressed in his poetry.
The best translation of his poetry was written by Vera Rich.
Vera Rich (1936-2009), a well-known British translator of Ukrainian literature into English, was buried, according to her desire near Taras Shevchenko’s grave in Kaniv, Ukraine, on April 15, 2011. her work, Song out of darkness is available on Amazon
This picture of Shevchenko is how he might have looked today defending Ukraine from modern day oligarchs, kleptocrats, Stalinists and separatists. The poem below is how he expressed himself then and is still relevant today
Vera Rich (1936-2009), a well-known British translator of Ukrainian literature into English, was buried, according to her desire near Taras Shevchenko’s grave in Kaniv, Ukraine, on April 15, 2011. her work, Song out of darkness is available on Amazon
This picture of Shevchenko is how he might have looked today defending Ukraine from modern day oligarchs, kleptocrats, Stalinists and separatists. The poem below is how he expressed himself then and is still relevant today
It Makes No Difference To Me
It makes no difference to me, If I shall live or not in Ukraine Or whether any one shall think Of me 'mid foreign snow and rain. It makes no difference to me. In slavery I grew 'mid strangers, Unwept by any kin of mine; In slavery I now will die And vanish without any sign. I shall not leave the slightest trace Upon our glorious Ukraine, Our land, but not as ours known. No father will remind his son Or say to him, "Repeat one prayer, One prayer for him; for our Ukraine They tortured him in their foul lair." It makes no difference to me, If that son says a prayer or not. It makes a great difference to me That evil folk and wicked men Attack our Ukraine, once so free, And rob and plunder it at will. That makes a great difference to me. |
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