Say what you will about the criminal, senseless and cruel Russian invasion of Ukraine, there have been some benefits to their malfeasance, a nation united behind a brave young visionary leader, a lately noteworthy weakening of Putin’s iron grip on Russia, and, of course a generous donation of abandoned armored vehicles to Ukraine’s arsenal precipitated by the headlong flight of their operators before the Ukraini advance.
Soldiers of the Ukrainian army yesterday “uncovered” another Russian gift to themselves and their countrymen and women, when they removed Russian propaganda from a billboard in an unfortunately unnamed city and found beneath a partially damaged, but still proudly legible patriotic poem penned by the 19th century Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko, who knew something of Russian incursions into her homeland as well…
— Іра 🇺🇦 (@ippvch) September 10, 2022
The poet eloquently debunks the colonialist essence of Russian imperialism with its hypocritical official demagoguery, soullessly cruel army, and docile bureaucratized church.
— Іра 🇺🇦 (@ippvch) September 10, 2022
There is also this video of Serhiy Nigoyan reading an excerpt from this poem on December 22, 2013 at Euromaidan. https://t.co/2VAGR4RVHk
He was later shot by a sniper on January 22, 2014 in the center of Kyiv.
— Іра 🇺🇦 (@ippvch) September 10, 2022
It is a long poem and we’ll worth the read; the stanza on the billboard is quoted in the comments below, but I will add, for what it’s worth, a couple of my favorite passages:
“Oh, when will justice rise at last?
And God, when wilt Thou give
Thyself from all Thy toil a rest? —
And let the people live!
Yet we believe in Thy great might
And in the living soul.
There shall be liberty and right!
And then to Thee alone
All tongues will pray, all heads will bow
For ever and ever.
But in the meantime, rivers flow,
The blood of men in rivers!
Mighty mountains, row on row, blanketed with cloud,
Planted thick with human woe, laved with human blood…… Oh friend good and noble, who’ll be never forgot!
Now wander, free spirit, all over Ukraine
And with the brave Cossacks soar over her coast,
Keep watch o’er the grave mounds on her spreading plains,
Ana weep with the Cossacks o’er all of her woes,
And wait-till from prison I come home again,
And in the meantime — I shall sow
My thoughts, my bitter tears,
My words of wrath. Oh, let them grow
And whisper with the breeze.
The gentle breezes from Ukraine
Will lift them up with dew
And carry them to you, my friend!…
And when they come to you,
You’ll welcome them with tender tears
And read each heartfelt line…
The mounds, the steppes, the sea and me
They’ll bring back to your mind.”
Slava Ukraini!
Your brave defiance will dwell in my mind as long as I live!
Now some comments:
Here is the translation pic.twitter.com/zrB7459F3f
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) September 11, 2022
Thank you, George!
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Shedding tears this morning for those giving their lives for their homeland.
Fight on good Ukrainians!— Twisted Mentat (@mentat_twisted) September 11, 2022
— Spin of the Anti-Spin Particle (@mylastquark) September 10, 2022
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This is literally poetic justice.
— The Ice Axe 🧊🪓 (@eisaxt) September 10, 2022
Indeed, Ice Axe, indeed.
What a wonderful moment of serendipity ! Every little bit helps to lift the spirits and warm the heart.
— Daniellapets (@denisepets) September 11, 2022
You are so right, Denise!
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Even the billboard defeated the Russian hoards!!!!
— Greg sierocinski (@Gregsiero) September 10, 2022
I watched this many times and can’t get enough. I love their reactions as they started with simply removing that russian banner but ended up revealing the poem. And not any poem but THIS one by Taras Shevchenko. The reaction of the soldier stepping back: ‘can’t be’ – incredible!
— Лана (@iliria3) September 11, 2022
Incredible but true, Iliari!
Here’s wishing those brave soldiers continued fortune and long life!
Their tremendous success has started rumblings, if the reports are true, of discontent with Putin’s blood soaked regime in Russia… perhaps he will fall even as his puppet here in the US is brought to heel.
May this past summer of turmoil mellow time an autumn of our content!
When 75 million of our citizens support nazi criminality at our highest office thereby pissing on the graves of every solider, sailor, marine, and airman that paid the highest price for our freedoms & right to vote, I feel ashamed given the bravery & sacrifice of the Ukrainians.
Thanks Dino, for sharing this. I may not be the only non-tweeter in the crowd. This is heartening and encouraging. I’m sure the Ukrainian soldiers are encouraged.
“the 19th century Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko, who knew something of Russian incursions into her homeland as well…”
Not so minor correction here, Dino, but Shevchenko was a HE–so “HIS homeland.”