(article)

Since February 24, 2022, the publishing industry in Ukraine has faced significant challenges. This is reflected in the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated June 9, 2021, No. 590, ‘On Approval of the Procedure for the State Treasury Service to Perform Powers in a Special Regime under Martial Law’. According to this regulation, libraries were left nearly unable to purchase new books using local budget funds. However, by the end of 2024, publishers will have been actively distributing Ukrainian publications, including poetry, which has been gaining momentum among readers.

Ukrainian Publishers with Poetry Books

In 2024, many publishers include poetry books in their portfolios. Among them are Vidkryttia, Zhupanskyi, Smoloskyp, Laboratory, and others. Notable publishers like The Old Lion Publishing House, Fabula, and Apriori show similarities in offering collections of Ukrainian classics, such as works by Hryhorii Skovoroda, Taras Shevchenko, and Vasyl Stus, reflecting the demand for these on the Ukrainian book market. Each publisher also presents unique poetry editions. For instance: The Old Lion Publishing House: Final Songs by Iryna Shuvalova and Stones and Nails by Yulia Musakovska. Fabula: Burrs by Serhii Martyniuk and Discovering Here by Mariia Kozyrenko. Apriori: W.H. Auden. Poems. Essays by W.H. Auden and Bad Poems by Max Lan. Ukrainian poetry has been gaining popularity in recent years, prompting publishers to actively expand their collections with works by contemporary authors, as well as domestic and international classics.

Prominent Poets in the Contemporary Literary Scene

Ukrainian poets and poetesses can be broadly categorized into four groups based on their time periods.

1. Pre-Soviet Era:
   This group includes Taras Shevchenko, Ivan Franko, Lesya Ukrainka, and others. Their works reflect the social and national issues of their time, laying the foundation for Ukrainian identity and consciousness by creating symbols that influenced their successors.
2. The Executed Renaissance:
   Gaining significant popularity today, this period includes the works of Mykola Khvylovy (Fitylov), Mykola Kulish, Borys Antonenko-Davydovych, and others. Marked by innovation and bold themes of national revival and independence, many authors of this period were repressed or executed. Their enduring artistic spirit ensures their continued relevance.
3. Soviet Period:
   Figures such as Vasyl Stus, Mykola Bazhan, and Maksym Rylskyi represent this group. Their works are characterized by creative explorations, socialist realism, and internal conflicts with Soviet ideologies and nationalist identity. Despite the totalitarian regime of the time, they remain influential for their distinctiveness and commitment to Ukrainian culture.
4. Contemporary Ukrainian Poetry:
   This group is actively evolving today and includes poets such as Serhii Zhadan, Viktor Neborak, and Halyna Kruk. Contemporary Ukrainian poets address various themes, such as love, nature, feminism, and social and political issues.

The most notable poetess spanning two groups is Lina Kostenko. Her poetry, embodying freedom, philosophical reflection, and resistance to oblivion, remains relevant as it touches on timeless themes, helping readers find themselves and preserve their national identity.

Original and Translated Poetry Publications in 2024

The Ukrainian book market in 2024 saw numerous original and translated poetry publications, including reissues of classics and new works by contemporary authors. According to Mind, the most popular classic poetry books at the Book Arsenal 2024 were: Lina Kostenko’s ‘Three Hundred Poems’, the most comprehensive collection of her works; ‘No One Has Loved Like This. An Anthology of Ukrainian Poetry about Love’, featuring works by Ivan Franko, Taras Shevchenko, Olena Teliha, Oleksandr Oles, and others; Vasyl Symonenko’s «I Gaze into Your Pupils», a collection including the author’s poems and children’s tales.

Contemporary poets also released significant works in 2024: Viktoria Amelina’s «Testimonies», a posthumous collection written during the full-scale invasion, after the poetess tragically died in the summer of 2023 during a missile strike in Kramatorsk. Maksym ‘Dali’ Kryvtsov’s ‘Poems from the Gunport’, poetry by the Ukrainian poet, public figure, and volunteer soldier who died in January 2024 while defending Ukraine. These poems, reflecting the war since 2014, are highly relevant and popular among readers.

Translated poetry maintains a smaller share of the Ukrainian book market but remains noteworthy. According to Readeat bookstore, popular titles include Canadian poetess Rupi Kaur’s «Milk and Honey» and «The Sun and Her Flowers», and Japanese poet Nakahara Chuya’s «Stained Sorrow», exploring Japanese landscapes, love, and pain.

Best-Designed Poetry Publications in 2024

The Ukrainian Book Institute presented a catalog, Ukrainian Poetry 2023–2024, featuring 88 poetry collections divided into four sections. The most notable designs include: From ‘Poetry (from) the War: Yaryna Chornoguz’s Dasein [defense of presence]’, featuring minimalist yet impactful design inspired by the philosophical term Dasein, meaning ‘being’ or ‘presence’; Contemporary Ukrainian Classics: Bohdan Kordoba and Liudmyla Samus’s ‘3.3.3’, which adopts an experimental approach, with illustrations by Samus symbolically tied to the texts; Classics: Folio’s collections of Ukrainian classics, featuring original portraits of poets in pastel tones; Poetry Anthologies: ‘Book Love 2.0: Love and War’, curated by Nadiia Koverska, with illustrations by Sonia Moroziuk that underscore themes of love, pain, and hope through simple yet evocative imagery.

Successful Poetry Events in 2024

Poetry events are thriving across unoccupied territories in Ukraine, aimed at promoting Ukrainian literary heritage and contemporary authors.

From September 6–8, 2024, Chernivtsi hosted the 14th International Poetry Readings Meridian Czernowitz. The event featured readings, book presentations, public discussions, and wine-and-book tastings, with a focus on war literature by writers actively engaged in Ukraine’s cultural and military spheres.

On September 8, Kyiv hosted the second charity poetry evening, Armature, where young poets performed their works to raise donations for humanitarian causes, collecting over 10,000 UAH for a private animal shelter.

In 2024, poetry in Ukraine is marked by a growing interest in both classic and contemporary works. War influences the themes addressed, bridging traditional and modern poetry. Events and publications underscore poetry’s role as an integral part of Ukrainian culture.