My Ukrainian ENGin buddy, and Friend of the BLOTT, has shared one of her favorite poems with us.
Крила by Lina Kostenko
Kryla (Wings) by Lina Kostenko (Translated from Ukrainian by Elder G)
А правда, крилатим ґрунту не треба. Землі немає, то буде небо. Немає поля, то буде воля. Немає пари, то будуть хмари.
В цьому, напевно, правда пташина… А як же людина? А що ж людина? Живе на землі. Сама не літає. А крила має. А крила має! Вони, ті крила, не з пуху-пір’я, А з правди, чесноти і довір’я. У кого — з вірності у коханні. У кого — з вічного поривання. У кого — з щирості до роботи. У кого — з щедрості на турботи. У кого — з пісні, або з надії, Або з поезії, або з мрії. Людина нібито не літає… А крила має. А крила має!
A person doesn’t seem to fly— But has wings. Yes—has wings! Not those made of fluff or feathers, But of truth, virtue, and trust. Sometimes from sincerity in work, Sometimes from poetry, from song, From the art of love, From tenderness, from striving, From deep loyalty to someone, From dreams, from hope, from yearning, From a springtime thunderstorm— From the burst of joy, From a heartfelt sorrow. A person flies not with wings, But with soaring thoughts. A person doesn’t seem to fly— But has wings. Yes—has wings!
An Overview by Elder G
Oh, Kryla (“Wings”) is one of Lina Kostenko’s most beloved and inspiring poems—short, powerful, and deeply metaphorical. It’s often quoted in Ukraine as a reminder of the human spirit’s capacity to rise above adversity. In this poem, Kostenko uses the symbol of wings not in the literal, physical sense, but as a metaphor for what gives life meaning—things like love, hope, knowledge, creativity, dignity, and freedom.
Key Themes in Kryla:
Wings as inner strength: Kostenko rejects the idea that wings are just for flying. Instead, she says “People do not fly, but they have wings.”
Human values: She lists what these metaphorical wings might be—truth, sincerity, loyalty, dreams, love, talent, even suffering and music. These are the things that allow us to transcend our circumstances.
Freedom and resistance: Written during Soviet times, the poem subtly but powerfully suggests that real freedom comes from within—an idea that carried special resonance for Ukrainians under Soviet rule.
Beauty and uplift: Despite its brevity, the poem soars with a sense of hope, purpose, and transcendence. It’s often memorized by schoolchildren in Ukraine.
Lina Kostenko
Oh yes, Lina Kostenko is a towering figure in Ukrainian literature—a poet of fierce intellect, moral clarity, and lyrical brilliance. Born in 1930 in Rzhyshchiv, Ukraine, she rose to prominence during the post-World War II era and became one of the leading voices of the Sixtiers (Shistdesyatnyky), a group of Ukrainian intellectuals and artists who resisted Soviet repression through cultural expression.
Kostenko is best known for her poetry, which blends deep emotional insight with historical consciousness and a strong commitment to justice and national identity. Her work is characterized by:
Lyrical intensity – Her poems are both beautiful and biting.
Courage – She openly criticized the Soviet regime, which led to censorship and suppression of her work for many years.
Philosophical depth – She tackles big themes: time, truth, love, memory, and the soul of her people.
Devotion to the Ukrainian language – She saw preserving and elevating the Ukrainian language as a sacred duty.
One of her most celebrated books is “Marusia Churai” (1979), a historical novel in verse based on a legendary 17th-century Ukrainian folk singer. Through this work, Kostenko reflects on themes of love, betrayal, identity, and the cost of war—resonant both in the past and now.
She’s still living—though very private—and is regarded almost as a national treasure in Ukraine. Many Ukrainians can quote her lines by heart.
Lina Vasylivna Kostenko (Ukrainian: Ліна Василівна Костенко; born 19 March 1930) is a Ukrainian poet, journalist, writer, publisher, and former Soviet dissident. A founder and leading representative of the Sixtiers poetry movement, Kostenko has been described as one of Ukraine’s foremost poets and credited with reviving Ukrainian-language lyric poetry.
Lina Vasylivna Kostenko was born to a family of teachers in Rzhyshchiv. In 1936, her family moved from Rzhyshchiv to the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv, where she finished her secondary education.
From 1937 to 1941, she studied at the Kyiv school #100, located on Trukhaniv Island, where her family lived. The school, in addition to the rest of the village, were burned by Nazi forces in 1943. The poem I Grew Up in Kyivan Venice is devoted to these events.
And you thought that Ukraine was so easy to understand? Ukraine is great. Ukraine is exclusive. Throughout history, others have bulldozed through Ukraine. Ukraine has endured endless trials and tribulations. My country is tough. In today’s world, that’s priceless!
— Lina Kostenko
Wikipedia / Image By keymaster – Ліна Костенко — maidan.org.ua, GFDL
A Humorous Side Note: Lina Kostenko and Wordy Derds
Amidst the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Kostenko criticized the usage of obscene language and publicly opposed its appearance in the media, on billboards, and postage stamps. This was primarily a reaction to slogan “Russian warship, go &@%$ yourself,” which became very popular in Ukraine in response to the Russian invasion.
Kostenko felt the slogan, and its use of Russian language vulgarity, reflected poorly on Ukraine and the beauty of the Ukrainian language, stating: “there is, perhaps, no other such thing [as the Ukrainian language] in the whole world. The language is a nightingale, while the devil is blabbering on.”
Ukraine introduced the design for a new postage stamp that memorializes a now-famous battle cry rallying the country in its fight against the Russian invasion.
The stamp — called “Russian warship, go f*** yourself!” — references an interaction on Snake Island.
The Ukrainian Postal Service (Ukrposhta) announced the stamp design after holding a public vote on social media for a postage stamp competition meant to commemorate the soldiers who defended a military outpost on the island last month.
