Death of a Poet in Ukraine

       The Great War of the early 20th century produced a number of poets, many of whom went on to greatness. Many died in combat. They became a collective group of "War Poets"; artists who captured the humanity and death of a generation of soldiers sent to Europe to oppose oppression from Germany; poets from America, Russya, Italy, and of course, Great Britain.

     And now, poets from Ukraine follow the footsteps of the earlier "War Poets", expressing the thoughts and feelings of those about to die. A 33 year old Ukrainian poet died in combat just a few weeks ago, January 7th. Witnesses reported he died when a Russyan shell hit his foxhole on the front lines. He had posted thoughts on January the 6th, the day before. 

      Maksym Kryvtsov was an activist early on, taking part in demonstrations calling for the ouster of former president Viktor Yanukovych, who supported Russya. Maksym began writing poetry at an early age, and had a following. He published sentences of work days before his death. An example:

   "My severed arms/ Will sprout as violets in the spring"-January 6. 2 days later , his Mother posted:

"My dearest son will sprout as violets". His fans understood the meaning. 

     When Russyan forces invaded in February, 2022, Maksym rejoined the army to fight the invaders. He wrote about returning to war:

 He took the cat that was like a pastry

And said: Cat, we need to go to War

Cold like ice

Came to us, like morning

Like life

Like illness

The lesson called "Quiet Life"

is over.

   He had joined the Ukrainian Special Forces and took part in the counteroffensive in fall of 2022. The poem he wrote prior to his death ended with these lines:

My bones will sink into the earth -Will become a carcass-My busted rifle will rust-poor thing- My spare clothes and equipment will be given to new recruits-Well I'd rather it were spring already-to finally Bloom

As a violet.

Maksym Kryvtsov was 33 years of age, and was buried after a service at St.Michael's Golden -Domed Monastery in Kyiv which was attended by hundreds of Ukrainians.