Ryszard Kupidura – essay

Ryszard Kupidura, expert on Eastern Europe, translator, assistant professor at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Faculty of Modern Language Studies and Literatures, Institute of Russian and Ukrainian Studies, Department of Ukrainian Studies. Collaborating with the ANAGRAM Publishing House on an ongoing basis

About literature and the war in Ukraine Ryszard Kupidura

We simply cannot conceive of war. We cannot recreate or reenact the emotions that accompany a human being during war. The war in Ukraine, as we know, has been raging for eight years. Reporters who write about the conflict in Donbas were somewhat surprised to discover that, in regions located not far away from military activities, e.g. in Kramatorsk or Siewierodonieck, people tried to lead normal lives. However, if we really think about it, it ceases to surprise us. There actually is beauty in the fact that in places where people are able to find just a little free space, even the smallest piece of land without the aura of war, then they immediately get back to their daily affairs, children start to go to playgrounds again. Because war is just something completely inhumane, it creates an environment in which a human does not naturally exist.

After 24 February, I have noticed different attitudes among readers. Some were unable to reach for literature during those days. There were at least two reasons for this. The most obvious one was being unable to focus on a book. Some, however, decided not to read due to the feeling of guilt. According to them, reading a book when other people are fighting or hiding from bombs would be ignoble. It is worth remembering, however, that staying within the world of literature does not necessarily mean we are ignorant. Quite the contrary – it can be our manifestation of humanity.

This is supported by the words of Bogdan Kolomiychuk, who, as a current member of the Lviv Territorial Guard, wrote on Facebook that it had become extremely important for him that people still read his books and shared their thoughts on social media. He treats it as a reminiscence of his former life he already longs to and wants to come back to as soon as possible. I reckon the Ukrainian culture has become important for at least several reasons. On one hand, we naturally want to know more about the country and people who are going through this tragic time of their history. On the other hand, I think there is more to this specific Ukrainian case. As the Polish nation, we are a part of this history. At least because we have opened the doors to our homes for Ukrainians who are fleeing from war. Have you noticed that people who take in Ukrainians often do not refer to them as “refugees”, but instead as “guests”? They will say: “I’m having guests from Ukraine”. This is extremely significant. Language starts to react to the changing reality. A very special bond is now developing between Poles and Ukrainians. I would even say “brotherhood”, only if I did not remember what the Soviet and then Russian propaganda had made of the term “brother nations”. I expect that the language – I hope it will be the language of poetry at first – will find new metaphors to describe what is currently happening between us and Ukrainians. I am convinced that literature will soon react to these new intercultural phenomena that are full of very positive energy. Energy we have been needing so much and have waited for. I am very glad that the Anagram Publishing House I have the pleasure to collaborate with is actively taking part in popularising the literary embrace of all these phenomena. May this cruel war end as soon as possible. We can handle the rest. [RK]