THE POET

In order for

Oleh Lysheha to be able to sing

Song 212

About “superstars

overrun with reeds”

in downtown Lviv—

the Potockis built a palace

the soviets nationalized it

independent Ukraine

allowed free verse to exist

Virlana Tkacz met Wanda Phipps

and forged the Yara Arts Group

the Sribne Slovo publishing house was formed

Olha Luchuk committed herself to preparing

the anthology In a Different Light

the New York branch of the Shevchenko Scientific Society

voted to partially fund this publication

representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora

gathered in Lviv

for one of their congresses Virlana

flew in from Kyrgyzstan and Wanda

from New York for the presentation

which the organizing committee planned for

June 20, 2008 at 9:30 AM

in the Hall of Mirrors

of the Potocki Palace

and Oleh Lysheha

showed up late

(for the start for the very start)

and fortunately he was the last one

scheduled to appear

Translated by Mark Andryczyk