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OUR LIFE Monthly, published by Ukrainian National Women’» League of America VOL. XLIII FEBRUARY 1986 Marla Baczynsky LESYA UKRAINKA (1871—1913) February is the birth month of one of the giants of Ukrainian literature — Lesya Ukrainka. A tragic figure in the annals of literary history because of her ill health, she concentrated the strength of her convictions into her talent and what we have today is a heritage of poetic masterpieces, innovative, imaginitive, beautiful, tender, strong and full of hope. Lesya Ukrainka was a name penned by writer Olha Kosach for her daughter Larysa, who showed promise as a poet. The name in translation means “Lesya, the Ukrainian,” and very apropos because at the core of Lesya’s creative work is her love of Ukraine - her native land and its people. As a writer, Lesya Ukrainka was an innovator. Per haps because of circumstances or perhaps by fate, the poetess diverted from the traditional mode of writing and drew her inspiration from the ancient works of the Greeks and Romans and from classical and contempor ary European literature. The analogies in her works are very apparent and apply to the situations, political and social, prevalent in Ukraine during her time. Practically every major work she has written deals with the problem of enslavement and the struggle for freedom and self- expression. Lesya Ukrainka’s illness, tuberculosis, was her pri son and the bane of her existence. It also opened the world to her. In seeking places of recuperation and medical aid, Lesya traveled all over Europe and to such exotic countries as Egypt. Her travels only enhanced the spirit of universality of her work making her not only valuable to her own people but as a first rate contender in the ranks of world class literary figures. “CONTRA SPEM SPERO” Hence, dark thoughts! Away, ye autumn mists! Golden spring is here, she’s here today! Should my days of youth be spent in woe, Drearily and sadly pass away? Nay, through all my tears, I still will smile, Sing my songs though troubles round me loom: Hopeless, still hope on against all odds, I will live! Away, ye thoughts of gloom! On this hard and ingrate soil I’ll sow Flowers that shall bloom with colors rare: Flowers will I plant where frost doth reign, Water them with many a bitter tear. And these burning tears will soften then All that ground so crusted, chill, malign, Flowers, then perhaps, will bloom and bring Joyous spring e’en to this heart of mine. Though the mountain side be rough and steep, Onward will I bear the ponderous stone: Struggling upwards ‘neath the crushing load, Still will I my joyous song intone. Through the long, dark night inscurtable Never will I close my wearied eyes, Searching ever for that guiding star — Radiant empress of the midnight skies. Yes, through all my tears I still will smile, Sing my songs though troubles round me loom; Hopeless, still hope on against all odds, I will live! Away, ye thoughts of gloom! Lesya Ukrainka (tra n s la tio n b y P e rc iv a l C u n d y ) ’’НАШЕ Ж ИТТЯ”, ЛЮ ТИЙ 1986 21
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