Andrew Sheppard – the constant translator of Oleksandr Korotko’s poetry during the full-scale war, received a new cycle of 28 of the author’s poems from the editor Dmytro Drozdovsky. We publish here the emotional text of the letter Sheppard sent in response:
“Dear Dmytro (and Aleksandr!),
Thank you for this new batch of poems. I am glad that, in a situation in which it would be so easy to despair, Aleksandr continues to find inspiration to write.
I suppose times were never easy – but now! – so needlessly, and not for the first time, far from the first… and once again from the same source.
I will be pleased to translate the poems and will let you see the result as fast as I can.
Each piece resonates with deep emotional strength and beauty, truly showcasing Aleksandr’s profound ability to draw inspiration from challenging times.
In the face of hardships that seem relentless and unjust, his words create a powerful tapestry of feelings, capturing both despair and hope in an extraordinary way.
I cannot do them ‘overnight’, however, especially at this present time. A measure of patience will be required.
Thank you for the permission to reproduce one or more of them in East-West Review. I will see which would seem to be the best for that purpose as I work on the translations”.
We remind you that the work on the translation of the author’s new works not only into English but also into other languages is constantly ongoing.
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