Ukrainian Haiku Poet Finds Small Miracles in War

In the central Ukrainian city of Poltava, 27-year-old poet Vladislava Simonova crafts haiku that have garnered acclaim in Japan, though she remains largely unknown in her homeland. Her apartment, located near a trolleybus depot frequently targeted by Russian drones, serves as her creative space. Simonova, with her distinctive pink hair and fuchsia attire, finds herself writing about war, a theme she never anticipated. "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.

Simonova's artistic process is deeply intertwined with her lived experience. As she spoke about the terror of Russian strikes, a drone whizzed overhead and exploded nearby, underscoring the constant threat she faces. Her shelves display a collection of Ukrainian poetry, Japanese teapots, religious icons, and a figurine of Phoebe Buffay, reflecting a blend of cultural influences. She discovered haiku, the seventeen-syllable, three-line Japanese poetic form, in 2013 as a teenager. For years, she studied Japanese masters like Basho, Buson, and Issa, refining her craft.

Her journey took a significant turn in 2018 when she won a competition organized by a Japanese foundation. After Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, she survived for three months in a Kharkiv shelter. It was from this shelter in March 2022 that she gave a written interview to Japan's The Asahi Shimbun newspaper. This led to contact with renowned Japanese poet Madoka Mayuzumi, who told AFP that Simonova possesses a "deep understanding" of haiku's essence.

“

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 highlighted Simonova's unique perspective: "Even in the midst of war, she gazes up at the moon and stars and admires flowers... her haiku reflect a communion with nature." She added, "Despite the themes that tend to be sombre, her work possesses a sense of optimism." Simonova's haiku, such as "Bees oblivious / To the air-raid siren's sound. / Linden trees in bloom," exemplify this ability to find beauty and resilience amidst devastation.

“

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