In the war-ravaged cities of southern Ukraine, an unlikely scene is unfolding. Amid the rubble and smoke, crowds are gathering not to await aid or escape, but to find solace in the enduring power of poetry. As Russian missiles rain down and global anxiety mounts over the election of Donald Trump, Ukrainians on the frontlines are turning to literature as a source of light in the darkness.
Poetry Readings Draw Unexpected Crowds
Ukrainian poet and filmmaker Iryna Tsilyk recently embarked on a tour of frontline cities including Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, holding poetry readings that drew hundreds despite the constant threat of shelling. Tsilyk was surprised by the turnout, with events attended not just by intellectuals but also soldiers, medics, and volunteers.
The closer they are to the frontline, the more acute this need is.
Iryna Tsilyk on the hunger for poetry in war-torn Ukraine
The readings, organized by literary group Meridian Czernowitz, have become something of a secret society – a gathering of those seeking glimpses of normalcy and beauty amid the chaos. In Kherson, the event had to be held in a bomb shelter with a limited guest list due to the constant danger of attack.
Shining a Light in Dark Times
For attendees, the poetry provides more than just a momentary escape. It’s a reminder of their shared humanity and resilience in the face of unthinkable hardship. Many are moved to tears, while others find much-needed laughter in the absurdity of wartime routine.
German writer Ronya Othmann, who joined Tsilyk on the tour, noted the palpable fear and sadness among Ukrainians following the US election results. But as one of Tsilyk’s own poems affirms, they are masters of balancing on the edge between realities, determined to hold fast to their identity.
A Girl on a Ball, hold on tight, press your feet into your planet, while it shakes …
From a poem by Iryna Tsilyk
Finding Hope Underground
The readings have become a kind of underground resistance, a defiant celebration of Ukrainian language and culture in cities that Russia seeks to label as their own. Organizers see it as part of a broader struggle to preserve the nation’s identity and spirit.
For soldiers and civilians alike, the chance to lose themselves in verse offers a flicker of light in the long tunnel of war. It’s a fragile yet stubborn hope that Ukraine’s voice will not be silenced, no matter how hard the invaders try to bomb it out of existence.
Savoring Moments of Grace
In frontline cities where missile strikes are a daily reality, the poetry readings have become almost surreal interludes, pockets of grace snatched between the horrors of war. For those who venture out to attend, it’s a risk deemed well worth taking for the chance to be transported, even briefly.
Yesterday a ballistic Russian missile hit Zaporizhzhia and killed eight civilians, but tonight we have poetry readings here.
Iryna Tsilyk on the jarring contrasts of life in Ukraine
Tsilyk and her fellow poets plan to continue their frontline readings for as long as they can, determined to bring moments of catharsis and connection to those in need. They know it’s not a solution to the immense trauma Ukrainians are enduring. But sometimes, the flicker of a candle is enough to hold back the dark.
Holding Fast in Uncertain Times
As Ukraine braces for a long and difficult road ahead, made all the more uncertain by shifting geopolitical winds, the country’s poets soldier on. Their words have become a lifeline and a form of resistance, a way to assert the undimmed spark of the Ukrainian spirit.
No one can say what the future holds, for Ukraine or the world at large. But in underground shelters and candlelit halls, the timeless magic of storytelling endures, offering solace, strength, and the stubborn hope that better days lie ahead. One poem, one gathering at a time, Ukrainians are writing their own destiny, even as the ground shakes beneath their feet.
