I heard sometimes that if you want to return to the family - destroy every tie related to it. Burn it for no evidence to be left. Cut the trunk for leaves of hope to be born.
I still learn how to do so by mind while invaders already did it with weapons. Killing, burning, and plundering everything in their sight. Leaving scorched earth behind them or - as they love to name it - russian world.
And yet, we will rebuild those homes after the victory.
Those future meetings on the usual and close to memories recreation base where the mini-state can flourish and anthems can be sung for half an hour.
Those surroundings where you feel like in a forgotten settlement, enriched by woods and life without a bother.
Those bridges where no one will never again cross and hide underneath to escape from kisses of mad creatures.
This country where no one will come with a gun in hand and void in the head.
Translated from Ukrainian by the author
Yurii Lishchuk is a Ukrainian poet and translator. He was born in Ternopil, where he lives to this day. He is the author of a poetry book "stavozero" (2021). He has been a participant in many festivals and events like BookForum (Lviv, Ukraine; 2018, 2019), "Ї" (Ternopil, Ukraine; 2021), "Faine Misto" (Ternopil, Ukraine; 2021), and Creative Youth Seminar (Irpin, Ukraine; 2019-2021). The finalist of the poetry contest "Haivoronnya" (Kyiv, Ukraine; 2021), came third at the "Mili Dueli" contest (Jajce, Bosnia & Herzegovina; 2022).