Ukrainian Poetry

Home in Our Hearts – Дім у наших серцях highlights the importance of Ukrainian language and literature in Ukrainian identity. Under the Romanov Empire, the Ems Ukas (1876) banned the publishing of new books in the Ukrainian language and the importation of any books in Ukrainian. Under the Soviet Union, the Orthography Decree (1933) removed unique Ukrainian letters from the alphabet.  

To celebrate Ukrainian contributions to literature and poetry, a member of the Ukrainian exhibition working group has chosen some poems to recite.  

My Testament – Taras Schevchenko

Watch Svitlana recite Zapovit (My Testament) by Taras Schevchenko. Zapovit (My Testament) was written in 1845. The work is one of the most famous poems in Ukrainian literature. In the poem, Shevchenko asks to be buried in his beloved homeland, where he can overlook the Dnipro River and the Ukrainian landscape. He calls on future generations to struggle for freedom and justice. The poem has become a symbol of Ukrainian national identity.  

Love Ukraine – Volodymyr Sosyura

Watch Svitlana recite Love Ukraine by Volodymyr Sosyura. Written in 1944 during the Second World War, Love Ukraine is Volodymyr Sosyura’s most famous work. The poem encourages readers to love their homeland in times of peace and hardship. The poem was later criticised by Soviet authorities for its strong expression of Ukrainian national identity.