The statue of Pokrovsk’s.
Famous composer.
Mykola Leontovych.
Has already been removed.
The music school.
That bore his name.
Now lies boarded up.
And empty.
Leontovych may not be.
Well known in the West.
But the tune.
He composed is familiar.
But the tune.
He composed is familiar.
Around the world.
– with its chime-like vocals.
In Ukraine.
It’s known as Shchedryk.
To most of the world it became.
Known as the Carol of the Bells.
It’s thought that.
Leontovych wrote.
The early scores.
Of the composition.
Based on an ‘elves’ folk chant.
While he was living.
And working in Pokrovsk.
Between 1904 and 1908.
In Ukraine.
It’s known as Shchedryk.
To most of the world it became.
Known as the Carol of the Bells.
She calls it.
“A masterpiece.
– the signature song.
Of Pokrovsk”.
She too was until recently.
Teaching music in the city.
In the school that.
Bore Leontovych’s name.
She’s now moved to.
The relative safety of Dnipro.
It’s where many of.
Pokrovsk’s former residents are.
Still trying to.
Keep the memories.
Of their former.
Home alive.
In Ukraine.
It’s known as Shchedryk.
To most of the world it became.
Known as the Carol of the Bells.
Beneath a salvaged portrait.
Of Leontovych.
She watches.
As a 13-year-old girl strikes.
The familiar chords of.
The carol on a piano.
The girl’s family fled.
Pokrovsk this summer.
But they’re determined.
Not to forget.
The place.
They still call home.
In Ukraine.
It’s known as Shchedryk.
To most of the world it became.
Known as the Carol of the Bells.
The girl’s mother says.
She’s glad to see.
Her daughters.
Practising Shchedryk.
“We won’t forget.
The history of our town.”
“We won’t forget.
The history of our town.”
In Ukraine.
It’s known as Shchedryk.
To most of the world it became.
Known as the Carol of the Bells.
For the girl.
The tune brings back memories.
“When I played it at home.
It seemed happy.”
“It reminded me of.
Winter and Christmas.
Now it’s more of.
A sad song to me.”
“Because it reminds me.
Of home.
And I really want.
To go back.”
*Because I read “The famous Christmas carol inspiring Ukraine’s defenders” by Jonathan Beale on 24 Dec 2024, and also “Why are Ukrainians calling Russians ‘orcs’?” by James FitzGerald on 30 Apr 2022, on the BBC news.
So, I wrote this poem, including a story of Viktoria, and a story of Anna and Yulia.
Please read the original story on the BBC news:
