Ukraine as a European country suffering from aggression the interpretation of polish poet Harry Duda (based on the two-volume work«Na oczach świata»)

Abstract

The poetry of renowned Polish poet Harry Duda, known for his deep Christian worldview, journalistic flair, and expansive thinking, has been significantly influenced by the events in Ukraine since 2014. His work, often imbued with elements of voluntarism and militarism, reflects the ongoing struggle of Ukrainians for freedom and statehood. This article examines a two-volume edition of Duda’s lyrical works with the bilingual concept, «Na oczach świata (In the Eyes of the World)», translated into Ukrainian by Viktor Melnyk. This edition conveys the essence of Ukraine’s fight for liberty.

In two chapters, the poet contemplates whether individuals are truly protected in modern society amidst threats, political regimes, and hybrid aggression. The book’s title invites readers to consider whether the global community is fulfilling its role in safeguarding democracy and freedom, or if it is ignoring such pleas. Through his rhymed and non-rhymed poems, Harry Duda captures the atmosphere of the Russia-Ukraine war, spanning from 2014 to 2022 and beyond, depicting scenes of wandering, suffering, death, trials, and tribulations.

Harry Duda’s portrayal of Ukrainians is informed by the vivid reports of global media, conveying the historical context of their struggle for freedom and pinpointing the perpetrators of war, high mortality, torture, and ecological disasters within Europe. The poet rightly identifies the war initiated by the North-Eastern intervention against Ukraine as a war with Europe and the entire civilized world.

This research aims to analyze the character development, figurative and symbolic elements, stylistic expressiveness, and emotional tones in Duda’s poems about 21st-century Ukraine. It addresses the challenges Ukraine faces due to existing geopolitical threats and seeks to uncover the profound artistic meanings and significance of poetry about cataclysms, conflicts, and wars in the context of building a harmonious human civilization.