Swamps of Every Instant (Yulia)

by Lina ramona Vitkauskas

In 1994, Ukraine gave up the third largest nuclear arsenal in the world. In return, the US, the UK and Russia guaranteed its sovereignty and protection by signing the Budapest Memorandum.

1.
War & ruse.
This absurd control.
This necessity.
This language barrier.
No.
Ne.
Nyet.

2.
Breach     this
shoot        this
kinship     this
face           this
place         this
border      this.

3.
In the swamps of every instant,
a despot will perish.

4.
You kraine
Me kraine
She kraine
He kraine
We all scream.

 

‘Swamps of Every Instant (Yulia)’ has been shortlisted for the 2016 Berfrois Poetry Prize.

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About the Author:

Lina ramona Vitkauskas is the author of White Stockings (2015/2016); SPINY RETINAS (Mutable Sound, 2014); Professional Poetry (White Hole Press, 2013); A Neon Tryst (Shearsman Books, 2013); HONEY IS A SHE (Plastique Press, 2012); THE RANGE OF YOUR AMAZING NOTHING (Ravenna Press, 2010); Failed Star Spawns Planet/Star (dancing girl press, 2006); and Shooting Dead Films with Poets (Fractal Edge Press, 2004). In 2013, she was selected by Eleni Sikelianos for the Henry Miller Memorial Library Ping Pong Journal Award, and in 2009, she was selected by Brenda Hillman for The Poetry Center of Chicago’s Juried Reading Award. She has also been nominated by Another Chicago Magazine for an Illinois Arts Council Award.