Our native literature is rich in talents, and outstanding Ukrainian poets who were born in the first month of the year have forever remained in the hearts of millions. January gave the world artists whose works have become symbols of the national spirit and a source of inspiration for many generations. WomanEL offers to get to know the life and work of birthday people better, as well as to remember their best poetic lines.
ContentVasyl Stus (January 6, 1938 – September 4, 1985) Volodymyr Sosyura (January 6, 1898 – January 8, 1965) Vasyl Symonenko (January 8, 1935 – December 13, 1963) Stepan Charnetsky (January 21, 1881 – October 2, 1944) Pavlo Tychyna (January 23, 1891 – September 16, 1967) Pavlo Chubynsky (January 27, 1839 – January 14, 1884)
Vasyl Stus (January 6, 1938 – September 4, 1985)
A prominent Ukrainian dissident poet, Vasyl Stus, whose work became a symbol of the struggle for human rights and the independence of Ukraine. His works are striking in their sincerity, tragedy, and undying spirit of freedom.
Ukrainian poets born in January: dissident Vasyl Stus. Photo: Instagram
The most famous poems:
• “How good it is that I am not afraid of death”
• “The sun shone on me this morning”
• “Viburnum in the Kolyma frost”
• “Winter trees”
• “Patience, patience – patience will polish you”
How good it is that I am not afraid of death,
And I do not ask if my cross is heavy, – excerpt from the poem “How good it is that I am not afraid of death.”
Volodymyr Sosyura (January 6, 1898 – January 8, 1965)
Volodymyr Sosyura – one of the most lyrical Ukrainian poets, known for his love poems and devotion to his native land. Sosyura managed to convey in his works the fragility of human feelings and the greatness of nature. His poetry is a synthesis of sincere love, patriotism and romanticism.
One of the most lyrical Ukrainian poets is Volodymyr Sosyura. Photo: Instagram
The most famous poems:
• “Love Ukraine”
• “No one loved like that”
• “Mazepa”
• “Autumn melodies”
• “Cornflowers”
Love Ukraine like the sun, love,
Like the wind, and the grass, and the water, – excerpt from the poem “Love Ukraine”.
Vasyl Symonenko (January 8, 1935 – December 13, 1963)
“Knight of the Ukrainian Word” Vasyl Symonenko – poet, prose writer, journalist and one of the brightest representatives of the sixties. His works are striking in their sincerity, love for their native land and struggle for human dignity.
“Knight of the Ukrainian Word” Vasyl Symonenko. Photo: Instagram
Most famous poems:
• “Swans of Motherhood”
• “Do you know that you are a person?”
• “I look into your pupils”
• “Maybe the guns will thunder again”
• “Ukraine”
You can choose everything in the world, son,
You can't just choose your homeland, – excerpt from the poem “Swans of Motherhood”.
Stepan Charnetsky (January 21, 1881 – October 2, 1944)
Stepan Charnetsky – poet, literary critic and playwright, author of songs that are still performed today. His poems glorify love for the native land and freedom. Author of the patriotic anthem of the Ukrainian Sich riflemen “Red Kalina” (“Oh, in the meadow the red Kalina bent down…”).
Author of the patriotic anthem of the Ukrainian Sich riflemen “Red Kalina” Stepan Charnetsky. Photo: Instagram
The most famous poems:
• “Girl, blooming rose”
• “Hey, in the meadow the red Kalina”
• “Spring song”
• “Native land”
• “Nightingale's Night”
Hey, in the meadow the red viburnum bowed,
Somehow our glorious Ukraine became sad, – excerpt from the poem “Hey, in the meadow there is a red viburnum”.
Pavlo Tychyna (January 23, 1891 – September 16, 1967)
The unique poet Pavlo Tychyna combined symbolism, impressionism and modernism in his work. His works fascinate with the richness of images and melodiousness. Tychyna left behind numerous collections that became part of the golden fund of literature.
Pavlo Tychyna combined symbolism, impressionism and modernism. Photo: Instagram
The most famous poems:
• “Harps, harps”
• “I stand on the cliff”
• “In memory of the thirty”
• “You have never been to our lands!”
• “Sunny clarinets”
Harps, harps —
Ukraine called itself golden, loud, – excerpt from the poem “Harps, harps”.
Pavlo Chubynsky (January 27, 1839 – January 14, 1884)
Pavlo Chubynsky – author of the words of the national anthem of Ukraine “Ukraine has not yet died”, folklorist, ethnographer and poet. His activities were aimed at popularizing Ukrainian culture.
Author of the words of the national anthem of Ukraine Pavlo Chubynsky. Photo: Instagram
The most famous poems:
• “Ukraine has not yet died”
• “Fatherland is sweet”
• “To the Fatherland”
• “In memory of Shevchenko”
• “My Ukraine”
Ukraine has not yet died, both glory and freedom,
Fate will smile on us, brothers of the youth.
Our enemies will perish like dew in the sun.
We will also reign, brothers, on our side, – excerpt from the national anthem of Ukraine.
Earlier we said that Serhiy Zhadan dedicated a new poem to the Charter brigade.
