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Archaeological Replicas Showcase Saudi Arabia's Rich History at Kuala Lumpur Int’l Book Fair

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

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  • Ukrainian poet Vladislava Simonova, celebrated in Japan but little known in her country, uses haiku to capture the realities of war.
  • Simonova, who lives in Poltava, finds inspiration in everyday details and the impact of Russian strikes, even as drones buzz overhead.
  • Her work, influenced by Japanese masters, has gained international recognition, with a Japanese poet noting her "deep understanding" of haiku's essence amidst conflict.

In a modest apartment in central Ukraine, surrounded by books and cultural artifacts, 27-year-old poet Vladislava Simonova crafts haiku that resonate deeply in Japan, yet remain largely unknown in her war-torn homeland. Simonova, with her distinctive pink hair and vibrant attire, lives in Poltava, a city frequently targeted by Russian drones, a constant threat that permeates her life and art.

Her living space reflects a unique blend of influences: a collection of contemporary Ukrainian poetry sits alongside Japanese teapots and religious icons. The ever-present threat of Russian attacks is a stark reality; as she speaks about the war, a drone explodes nearby. "I never thought that I would be writing about war," she told AFP, "With time, I somehow came to realize that... tiny details can convey the tragedy of this great war much better than perhaps dozens of reports."

I never thought that I would be writing about war. With time, I somehow came to realize that ... tiny details can convey the tragedy of this great war much better than perhaps dozens of reports.

— Vladislava SimonovaThe Ukrainian poet explained her shift in focus towards writing about the war through intimate details.

Simonova discovered haiku, the traditional Japanese three-line poem of 17 syllables, in her teenage years. She studied masters like Basho and Buson, eventually writing over 600 haiku. Her work often captures fleeting moments and the beauty of nature, even amidst the devastation of war. One haiku reads: "He walks so proudly, / On soft apricot petals / This plump little cat."

Even in the midst of war, she gazes up at the moon and stars and admires flowers... her haiku reflect a communion with nature.

— Madoka MayuzumiJapanese poet Madoka Mayuzumi described Simonova's ability to connect with nature despite the ongoing conflict.

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Simonova was in Kharkiv, surviving three months in an underground shelter. Her haiku from this period reflect the stark contrast between nature's persistence and the reality of conflict, such as: "Instead of a storm -- / The rumbling of explosions. / Springtime has arrived."

Renowned Japanese poet Madoka Mayuzumi, who connected with Simonova after reading her work in The Asahi Shimbun, praised her ability to find beauty and optimism. "Even in the midst of war, she gazes up at the moon and stars and admires flowers... her haiku reflect a communion with nature," Mayuzumi said. "Despite the themes that tend to be sombre, her work possesses a sense of optimism."

Despite the themes that tend to be sombre, her work possesses a sense of optimism.

— Madoka MayuzumiMayuzumi commented on the underlying hopeful tone in Simonova's war-themed haiku.
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Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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