How feelings sounds
from father to daughter
Ukrainian soldier
Pavlo Vyshebaba
wrote a touching poem for his daughter from the front. In just a
week, the poem, which begins with "Please Don't Write to Me of the War" became incredibly popular.
This poignant poem is a response to a letter from Pavel Vyshebaba's daughter, in which she asks: what can I
tellyou, Dad? In response,
Vyshebaba
rote poetry asking his daughter not to write to him about the war, not to
tell how she escaped the missiles, but rather to invite to Ukraine all Europeans who were so kind and
sheltered the family of
Vyshebaba
and other Ukrainians who were forced to leave because war.
Please don't write to me of the war,
Tell me instead of the gardens around,
Do the grasshoppers sing the songs we adore?
Do the snails slowly inch upon sprouts?
Tell me about the words people use
To name their cats in faraway nations.
The only thing I want you to refuse
Is to hide between the lines your frustrations.
Do cherries or apricots bloom near your dwelling?
If they give you a bouquet of flowers,
Don't talk about your escape from the shelling
Tell them we lived here the best life of ours
Let Ukraine become the land to explore,
Invite foreign friends and every person you meet.
We will show everybody after the war
How grateful we are for our children's peace.
Tell me instead of the gardens around,
Do the grasshoppers sing the songs we adore?
Do the snails slowly inch upon sprouts?
Tell me about the words people use
To name their cats in faraway nations.
The only thing I want you to refuse
Is to hide between the lines your frustrations.
Do cherries or apricots bloom near your dwelling?
If they give you a bouquet of flowers,
Don't talk about your escape from the shelling
Tell them we lived here the best life of ours
Let Ukraine become the land to explore,
Invite foreign friends and every person you meet.
We will show everybody after the war
How grateful we are for our children's peace.
Written by Pavlo Vishebaba
Translated from Ukrainian by Anhelina Yurkiv
SheCodes.Basics
Mylevska V. Final Project