Skip to content
Call Us Today! 212-533-4646 | MON-FRI 12PM - 4PM (EST)
DONATE
SUBSCRIBE
Search for:
About Us
Publications
FAQ
Annual Report 2023
Annual Report 2022
Annual Report 2021
Initiatives
Advocate
Educate
Cultivate
Care
News
Newsletters
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
Join UNWLA
Become a Member
Volunteer With Us
Donate to UNWLA
Members Portal
Calendar
Shop to Support Ukraine
Search for:
Print
Print Page
Download
Download Page
Download Right Page
Open
1
2-3
4-5
6-7
8-9
10-11
12-13
14-15
16-17
18-19
20-21
22-23
24-25
26-27
28-29
30-31
32-33
34-35
36-37
38-39
40
EARLY IN THE MORNING SHE COMBED HER HAIR by VASYL STEFANYK Early in the morning she combed her hair. Autumn rays forced their way through the window pane. They slid down herhair, like fine silvery threads spun from pieces of gold. As she combed her hair, the broad leaves of the walnut tree near the window slowly swayed chasing the rays from onewindow to the next. The rustle of the leaves crept into her thoughts. She let the comb glide through her hair, slowly, and then she stopped. She leaned her elbows on the table, her hair cascaded down, covering her shoulders and the back of the chair. A waterfall of golden waves. The falling water had carved out a path, and now was washing away at her neck. That neck was washed clean, like a white rock. “It’s autumn now. Leaves, are you whispering that he this ancient pre-Christian ritual. Even a ban of fifty years has not managed to sever this subtle bond to ancient times. After Easter I traveled to Lviv, where I presented a paper at an international theatre conference dedicated to losyp Hirniak. Hirniak was one of the greatest actors of Ukraine who worked at the Berezil Theatre with director Les Kurbas in the 1920s. In his old age he lived in Mew York and was my window into the world of Kur bas and the Ukrainian avant-garde. It was wonderful to see his achievements and art now celebrated in his homeland. In Lviv I also danced late into the night at a presen tation of the stars of the hit parade in Ukraine. I came especially to see Iryna Bilyk. Iryna is a stunning blond, with a voice, a presence and an attitude. Her perfor mances, live or on video, are as striking and original as Madonna’s. She is Ukraine’s biggest disco star and she performs all her material exclusively in Ukrainian. She writes her own songs and is the first artist in Ukraine to produce her own CD. It’s called Nova and it is at the top of the charts. In the title song Iryna sings: Я знаю тобі це буде незвично Я нова, нова, нова, нова, нова... I know you’re not used to it, but I’m new, new, new, new, new... Iryna had attended the closing night performance of Waterfall/Reflections in Kyyiv. And although she con fessed earlier that she had never really listened to Ukrai nian folk music, I saw her in deep conversation with Nina Matvienko at our party. These two stars of oppo site ends of the spectrum of Ukrainian music were beginning to recognize something familiar in each other. I joined in the conversation — this was one talk I would not miss for the world. doesn’t love me anymore? Are you repeating what people say, that I’m not worthy because I gave into temptation? Or are you rustiing with his thoughts: that I’m too old, that I can’t be loved? Tell me, tell me, what are you whispering about?” She bowed her head into her folded arms. Her hair fell over them. “Tell me, tell me dear walnut tree.” She started to cry. The tears rolled down her arms, like drops of spray from a waterfall. And in the window the broad leaves of the walnut tree whispered: "Just comb your hair, silly, he loves you!" Translated from the Ukrainian by Viriana Tkacz & Wanda Phipps Старші жінки дивляться на гаїлки в Ямниці. Фото Вірляни Ткач. Grandmothers watching the Easter dances in lamnytsia. Viriana Tkacz. Yara Arts Group performs at La Mama in New York and has presented workshops, lectures and poetry readings for col leges and community organizations throughout North America. For more information: Yara Arts Group, 306 East 11th St. #3B, New York, NY 10003, phone/fax: (212) 475-6474, e-mail: YCTG48A@prodigy.com Видання C оюзу Українок A мерики - перевидано в електронному форматі в 2012 році . A рхів C У A - Ню Йорк , Н . Й . C Ш A.
Page load link
Go to Top
1 
2-3 
4-5 
6-7 
8-9 
10-11 
12-13 
14-15 
16-17 
18-19 
20-21 
22-23 
24-25 
26-27 
28-29 
30-31 
32-33 
34-35 
36-37 
38-39 
40 
