UKRAINIAN POETICA

This web-site is the most complete internet library of Ukrainian poetry. It contains more than 15,000 pages of poetry and songs in Ukrainian (about 30 Mb). It includes the works of classical Ukrainian poets such as Taras Shevchenko, Ivan Franko, Pavlo Tychyna, Volodymyr Sosiura, as well as modern poets — Lina Kostenko, Mykola Vinhranovsky, Pavlo Hirnyk, Yuri Andrukhovych. Most of the modern works are included with approval of respective copyright holders. We strive to achieve 100% copyright conformance.

The purpose of the site is to develop the Ukrainian language and preserve our great heritage by modern means of the World-Wide Web. We believe the language expresses itself best in its poetic form. Which is why we feel that the publishing of Ukrainian poetry on the Net will add the greatest incremental value to the future development of the language.

Where can I find Ukrainian poems translated into other languages?

We do not monitor this type of Internet content on a regular basis, but here are some links, which may help:

Selected poems of Taras Shevchenko (English)
Poems of Ivan Franko (English)
Ukrainian poetry in English, Portuguese, German, French, Russian and other languages

Abridged history of Ukraine (English)

I do not speak Ukrainian but I want to present a love poem to my girlfriend (boyfriend). Which one would you recommend?

It would be unwise on our part to recommend a poem in such a context. However, if you still insist you can use one of Shakespeare's sonnets, choosing the right one through English alphabetical index. Otherwise you can use a superb poem by Hryhory Chubai (a very basic translation is here). If none of the offered solutions fit, you will have to learn the language.

If you have any comments, suggestions or propositions, please contact us at  .

Roman Kosarenko
Yuri Machukha
Yulia Kosarenko
Petro Hryniuk