The author thinks about the cultural and historical heritage of humanity, unpleasant manifestations of imperfection. He seeks to teach something and show something new, different. The writer leads the reader to known and unknown spaces, places “that can live without you, but you can’t live without them.” Nothing special, even seemingly insignificant details fill our lives. It’s all about all of us. We can recognize and find ourselves in each text, as the author himself searches for himself in it. “What’s wrong with me?” – asks Andrijus Liubka and answers: – Maybe it’s just that I can freely feel life and notice things in life.” The book was written even before the war, “without a weight on my shoulders”. You can hide in it, imagine that you are in the safety of 2022. After February 24, everything changed. The peace lasts for 192 pages of the book, then disappears. “You have to relearn how to hear, see, feel every little thing, because they are what our existence consists of.”
Andrijus Liubka (b. 1987) – poet, writer, essayist, translator, member of Ukrainian PEN Center. He graduated from Ukrainian philology at the University of Uzhhorod, and Balkan studies from the University of Warsaw. His books have won many literary prizes and are translated into foreign languages. He is a curator of international poetry festivals, as well as an active volunteer helping the Ukrainian army.
We offer excerpts from the book.
Something is wrong with me. I think, standing in front of the barber shop on Demijivska Street, where you have had your hair cut many times. Forty hryvnias, as I recall now. Why am I standing here, why did I come here? Bad legs! No one recognized me, no one smiled or nodded. Everything here was familiar to me, I could walk with my eyes closed.
What was I looking for here? The flat tires, the chubby hairdresser, the old view from the apartment I once called home?
No. Self.
Only here – in Uzhhorod – I am mine. I feel good here, in my place, like a fish in water.
Like a tree that grows on this earth, because elsewhere it can rot. There is this intangible and magical, a certain special kind of peace and comfort, the wonderful velvety air, the intense red of the sunsets.
I am of the opinion that the best measure of time, the most suitable for a person, is the minute. Although we live in years, months and days, it is only the minute that determines our emotional biography.
True happiness is short and intense, we feel it for just a few minutes, and then we warm ourselves in its reflection and fall asleep to its echo.
…there are no winners in war. More precisely, there are states, regimes, coalitions, but on a personal, human level, all war veterans are its victims. That is why I liked Kitados so much that the architectural complex of war veterans in Paris is not called the Palace of the Invalides, but the Victory. How apt!
I don’t read to know. Sometimes I read to fall asleep. Sometimes – to pass the time. Mostly – to experience what I haven’t experienced. I read to forget. Because if I forget the book, I can read it again. I read that I forgot. And I forget to live.
It turned out that it was not me, but the child who taught me how to live. He appeared just in time to open parents’ eyes to things they had already forgotten or overlooked. Finally, the germ of this obvious truth lay in language, which is always wiser than we are. There is no such word as stepfather. Why do you need it, because in fact, when a child is born, you adopt it? So what has my baby taught me in these six months? First of all, simple and basic joys: smiles, good mood, joy just because everything is just fine, nothing hurts and nobody cries.
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#A.Liubkas #book #true #stories #autobiographical #stories #Culture
2024-09-07 03:37:16
Table of Contents
The Power of Reflection: Unpacking the Cultural and Historical Heritage of Humanity through the Eyes of Andrijus Liubka
In the realm of cultural and historical heritage, humanity has always grappled with the complexities of imperfection. It is in this pursuit of understanding and self-discovery that Ukrainian writer, poet, essayist, and translator Andrijus Liubka finds himself Lost in thought, Liubka ponders the intricacies of human existence, seeking to teach and show something new, different, and relatable. His writing leads readers on a journey through both familiar and uncharted territories, echoing the sentiment that “places can live without you, but you can’t live without them” [[1]].
The Search for Self
Liubka’s introspective nature is exemplified in his writing, as he questions, “What’s wrong with me?” only to respond, “Maybe it’s just that I can freely feel life and notice things in life” [[1]]. This introspection is a hallmark of his work, as he delves into the human experience, inviting readers to reflect on their own lives. His writing is a manifestation of his own quest for self-discovery, as he navigates the nuances of life, love, and war.
The Comfort of Familiarity
Liubka’s writing often returns to the theme of comfort and familiarity. In one excerpt, he finds himself standing in front of a barber shop on Demijivska Street, where he has had his hair cut many times before. He reflects on the comforting sense of familiarity, stating, “Only here – in Uzhhorod - I am mine. I feel good here, in my place, like a fish in water” [[1]]. This introspection highlights the human desire for comfort and the sense of belonging that comes with it.
The Significance of Time
Liubka’s work also explores the concept of time, proposing that the minute is the most suitable measure for human emotional biography. He writes, “Although we live in years, months, and days, it is only the minute that determines our emotional biography” [[1]]. This idea is beautifully expressed in his statement, “True happiness is short and intense, we feel it for just a few minutes, and then we warm ourselves in its reflection and fall asleep to its echo” [[1]].
War and Humanity
The impact of war on humanity is another theme that Liubka tackles in his work. He notes that “there are no winners in war” and that “all war veterans are its victims” [[1]]. This sentiment is poignant, highlighting the devastating effects of conflict on human lives. Liubka’s words serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of empathy and understanding in the face of adversity.
The Power of Language and Experience
Liubka’s writing often touches on the significance of language and experience. He reveals that his child has taught him how to live, stating, “It turned out that it was not me, but the child who taught me how to live” [[1]]. This sentiment emphasizes the importance of experience and the role that language plays in shaping our understanding of the world. Liubka’s writing serves as a testament to the power of language to convey complex emotions and ideas.
Conclusion
Andrijus Liubka’s work is a reflection of his own search for meaning and understanding in a complex world. Through his writing, he invites readers to embark on a journey of self-discovery, exploring the intricacies of human existence. His words serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of empathy, understanding, and the human experience. As we navigate the complexities of life, Liubka’s writing encourages us to relearn how to hear, see, and feel every little thing, for it is in these moments that we truly come alive.
References
Keywords: Andrijus Liubka, Ukrainian writer, poet, essayist, translator, cultural heritage, historical heritage, humanity, imperfection, self-discovery, comfort, familiarity, time, war, language, experience.
What themes does Andrijus Liubka explore in his poetry and writing?
Andrijus Liubka: A Ukrainian Poet and Writer with a Unique Perspective
Andrijus Liubka, a renowned Ukrainian poet, writer, essayist, and translator, has made a significant impact on the literary world with his thought-provoking works. Born in 1987, Liubka has been recognized for his ability to weave together the cultural and historical heritage of humanity with the unpleasant manifestations of imperfection.
A Search for Identity and Self
In his writing, Liubka often explores the theme of identity and self. He seeks to teach and show something new and different, leading the reader to known and unknown spaces, places “that can live without you, but you can’t live without them.” Through his words, he encourages readers to recognize and find themselves in each text, as he himself searches for himself in his writing. As he so aptly puts it, “What’s wrong with me? Maybe it’s just that I can freely feel life and notice things in life.”
The Power of Observation and Appreciation
Liubka’s writing is characterized by his ability to observe and appreciate the small, seemingly insignificant details in life. He believes that these details are what make up our existence. In one of his poems, he writes, “I am of the opinion that the best measure of time, the most suitable for a person, is the minute. Although we live in years, months and days, it is only the minute that determines our emotional biography.” This attention to detail is a hallmark of his writing style.
The Impact of War
Liubka’s work has also been influenced by the war in Ukraine. He writes about the harsh realities of war and its impact on individuals, stating, “There are no winners in war. More precisely, there are states, regimes, coalitions, but on a personal, human level, all war veterans are its victims.” His writing serves as a reflection of the human experience during times of conflict.
A Love for Reading and Language
Liubka is also an avid reader and has a deep appreciation for language. He believes that reading allows us to experience things we haven’t experienced before and to forget, so that we can read again. He writes, “I read to forget. Because if I forget the book, I can read it again. I read that I forgot. And I forget to live.”
Personal Reflections and Insights
In addition to his literary pursuits, Liubka is a family man and has learned valuable lessons from his child. He reflects on the joys of parenthood, stating, “It turned out that it was not me, but the child who taught me how to live. He appeared just in time to open parents’ eyes to things they had already forgotten or overlooked.” Through his writing, Liubka shares these personal reflections and insights, offering readers a glimpse into his life and experiences.
About the Author
Andrijus Liubka was born in 1987 in Vynohradiv, South-Western Ukraine. He studied Ukrainian Philology at the Uzhhorod National University and Balkan studies from the University of Warsaw. He is a member of the Ukrainian PEN Center and has won numerous literary prizes for his work, which has been translated into foreign languages. Liubka is also a curator of international
