Пустеля (Desert)
This particular poem was composed soon after arriving to Saudi Arabia where I came after Ukraine. My choice to settle there largely was because I didn't want to be constantly reminded of life in Ukraine. I thought that by coming a completely foreign land with no familiarities on the surface, then it would be easier to deal with the trauma of losing my home to a war that russia started.
Despite never having been here before, this poem is trying to communicate the fact that there are familiar elements that reach out to me.
Кришталевий пісок без меж,
У пустелі без краю.
Тут я сам, тут я знаю,
Що це чужий, але знайомий край.
Хоча серед гарячого піску,
Мені здається дивно.
Тут я відчуваю свою силу,
І відчуваю подяку в серці.
Бо тут, де немає жодного знаку,
Я знаходжу свою дорогу.
Тут я знаю, що єдиний шлях,
Це той, що я обрав сам.
Тож нехай пустеля здавалась безкрайною,
Я знаю, що тут я в безпеці.
Тут я знаю, що я знайомий,
І що я можу знайти своє щастя.
Translation:
Crystal sand without limits,
In the endless desert.
Here I am alone, here I know
That this is a foreign, but familiar land.
Although among the hot sand,
It seems strange to me.
Here I feel my strength
And I feel gratitude in my heart.
For here, where there is no sign,
I find my way.
Here I know that the only way
This is the one I chose myself.
So let the desert seem endless,
I know I am safe here.
Here I know that I am familiar
And that I can find my happiness.