Article by Carla Woodburn, Scots Language Centre Poetry Editor.

A'd like tae introduce Slava Konoval. Slava is a Ukrainian lawyer an poet bidin in Kyiv. Slava haes a specific admiration fur the Scots leid.

Slava contactit the Scots Language Centre an expressed his desire tae share his poetry wae us relatin tae the Russian invasion o Ukraine. At first a wisnae sure how we could publish Slava’s wirk as it wisnae Scots, an we ainly focus oan Scots content, until Slava explaint his passion fur the Scots leid, an how he’d haen twa poems translatit intae Scots fae twa different members o the Scots Language Society. A wis delitit wae this news an fur tae get the chance tae blether wae him mair, an tae publish his poetry.

Slava telt me he’s haen a connection wae, an passion fur Scotland fae he wis a wean, haein done a project in school aboot oor bonnie land, Scotland. Oor fid, oor kilts an oor bagpipes were things Slava spoke aboot wae a passion an fascination. He kens aboot oor language an aw the trouble we
hae gettin oor leid recognised an respctit as a valid leid. An aboot folk denyin the legitimacy o oor language. Slava explaint thit Ukraine haes ainly bin an independent country fur the last 30 year an made comparisons wae Scotland, oor fight fur independence, an language recognition. Slava said
Ukraine is steeped in history an rich culture, an he went oan tae again mak a comparison atween Ukraine an Scotland comparin oorkintraes, describing them baith as “rich in culture."

Whilst blethering wae Slava the discussion naturally wis dominatit wae the invasion o Ukraine an this is reflectit greatly in Slava’s poetry. Slava’s poetry describes aspects o war in a wey ainly a war civilian cuid. He writes fae the hert, wae passion an conviction, wae anger and love, an he explainit
tae me hou proud he is o his country an his fella Ukrainians. He proudly telt me that he is the first Ukrainian memmer o the Scots Language Centre. A telt him, in true Scottish hospitality, that he’s very welcome.

Slava writes poetry maistly in English, as his desire is tae share Ukraine's love fur the airts an fur tae mak Ukraine kent fir mair than jist the war, but fur it tae be kent fir its rich culture, an fur its love fur airt and poetry. He is published in monie international magazines. He enters monie competitions an he’s also haed his poetry translatit intae Irish tae. His desire is tae share his poetry internationally an spreid the guidd wird fae Ukraine wae the warld. Due tae health reasons Slava isnae fechtin in the war as a sodger, insteid he telt me thit his duty is tae share his poetry wae the warld, an A personally respect an unnerstaun his self-declairit duty. It’s a pleisure tae share Slava’s poetry an story wae us aw throu the Scots Language Centre an for tae help Slava on his mission tae promote the airt love an culture o Ukraine. Slava wis a joy tae blether wae, he haes braw manners an wis affae polite an interested, durin whit is a very traumatic an uncomfortable time fur Ukraine.

Fan div Ye Lug Intil Burevy?

Michty the tread stourin the track
Aa aroun her thare is green
The muckle barrel o the anti aircraft gun
Thare’s nae leain here, nae noo,
Aathin is stairk.

Frae sleepin laich
She’ll raise, cannie like
Aince sae bonnie
Noo gulsoch een stare
her camouflage green agin the bleck.

Stairt ane, stairt twae, fire!
The captain gaes oot the orders,
Throu the lift, the muckle slug flew aheid
Skeelie noo, wi new fun abilitie.

Poem by Slava Konoval and translatit intae Scots by George T Watt

Honour tae the Miami Polis

Ayont the sea’s blue een,
ahint the gowstie oceans,
whaur Miami Polis haud their ceetie siccar,
photies frae Ukrainian touns gien their heirts a rug.

The Buchanskyi polisman wis hauden the lass in his airms,
a near-haunt wa collapsed,
deep crater howes, fairm steadins in ruinage.
Dashelt bleck uniform, nummer plate smoort wi bluid,
heid cut bi shrapnel, but he gangs, cairries oot
a debt tae the fowk, a patriotic duty.

Syne comrades gie ower wappens frae Miami,
sae Ukrainians maun proteck their ceeties,
fir tae seelence the Russian shells,
Miami Polis ye are sae braw.

Poem by Slava Konoval and translatit intae Scots by Rab Wilson

Listen tae Carla interview Slava Konoval on Express Yourself on Sunny Govan Radio