“It was stunningly beautiful.
The local authorities took good care.
Of roads and pavements.
This may not be such a big deal for Europe.”
“But for us it was unusual.
They had built a marvellous stadium.
And refurbished.
Our college, lavishly.”
“New, very good.
Musical instruments were bought.”
Her college hosted piano competitions.
For all of Ukraine.
And held frequent public concerts.
To mark occasions.
Such as St Valentine’s Day.
Or New Year’s Eve.
“There is no life.
Without culture and art.
Bakhmut was always.
Interested in culture.”
She taught piano.
At Bakhmut’s Culture and Arts College.
Before ‘Mordor’’s full-scale invasion.
War changed everything.
Residents of Bakhmut describe.
The city before the war.
As cosy and comfortable.
To live in.
The eastern ‘elves’ town of Bakhmut is now.
Known across the world as the site.
Of the longest and possibly bloodiest battle.
In ‘Mordor’’s war on Ukraine.
It is now almost completely destroyed.
And almost all of its ruins are.
Controlled by ‘orcs’ forces.
Nearly every single resident has now left.
Residents of Bakhmut describe.
The city before the war.
As extremely well looked-after.
Cosy and leafy.
One of her students has.
Fond memories of the college in Bakhmut.
“We went there at dawn.
And went home at sunset.”
“The night guard would tell us.
To get out of college at nine in the evening.
And I remember that on the way home.
Everything felt just right.”
“It was the right time and place to be.
It was our home.”
She has vivid memories of the night.
Before ‘Mordor’’s full-scale invasion last year.
“On 23 February.
We held a massive concert.
And I remember the beautiful sunset.
That evening.”
“I was walking home.
Looking at the sky.
And the stars.
And I wondered:”
“‘How long will the sky above stay peaceful?’
The stars were absolutely.
Amazing that night.”
War changed everything.
Residents of Bakhmut describe.
The city before the war.
As cosy and comfortable.
To live in.
The eastern ‘elves’ town of Bakhmut is now.
Known across the world as the site.
Of the longest and possibly bloodiest battle.
In ‘Mordor’’s war on Ukraine.
It is now almost completely destroyed.
And almost all of its ruins are.
Controlled by ‘orcs’ forces.
Nearly every single resident has now left.
Residents of Bakhmut describe.
The city before the war.
As extremely well looked-after.
Cosy and leafy.
“The next morning.
We were woken up by people shouting.
That war had started.
And our cities were being bombed.”
“I had tears in my eyes.
When I saw photos of our concert hall.
After it had been hit right where.
Our beloved grand piano was.”
“It was every pianist’s dream.
To take to that stage and play it.”
She said how devastated she was to see.
Her college being damaged by fighting.
“When we learnt that all the windows got smashed.
We knew that was the end of our pianos.
All the strings will go rusty.
Because of the damp.”
After the start of the war.
The college moved to.
Kamyanets-Podilsky.
A city in western Ukraine.
“This changed the dynamic.
Of our relationship with teachers completely.
We are one big family now.
Because we’ve all lost our homes.”
“We’ve been through.
All this together.
The support we’re getting from.
Each other is priceless.”
Her teacher agrees:
“Yes, we’re family.
We meet after work.
And we stay in touch.”
“We go out all the time.
For a cup of coffee.
Or just for a chat.
In a cafe.”
“This must be the warmth.
We’ve brought from Bakhmut.
We’re trying hard to preserve it.
Because it’s tough living without a home.”
But despite the tragedy.
Of Bakhmut’s destruction.
The piano teacher.
Has one dream:
To return to her native eastern Ukraine.
Even if it won’t be Bakhmut.
Students from the college.
Dream of returning home one day.
*Because I read “Ukrainians remember Bakhmut, city of salt and sparkling wine” by S Vitaly Shevchenko on 11 June 2023, and also “Why are Ukrainians calling Russians ‘orcs’?” by James FitzGerald on 30 Apr 2022, on the BBC news.
So, I wrote this poem as a story of Natalya and her students including Oleksandra.
Please read the original story on the BBC news:
Ukrainians remember Bakhmut, city of salt and sparkling wine – BBC News
**My friend shows you this poem with another poem together also on the Ukrainian website for their children and others!
Kurama (Japan). Two poems about the city Bakhmut before the war – Мала Сторінка (storinka.org)
Please join them!
