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Ukrainian Studies
New York Elegies: Ukrainian Poems on the City
Winner of the American Association for Ukrainian Studies 2018-2019 Prize for Best Translation into English
New York Elegies attempts to demonstrate how descriptions and evocations of New York City are connected to various stylistic modes and topical questions urgent to Ukrainian poetry throughout its development. The collection thus gives readers the opportunity to view New York through various poetic and stylistic lenses. Ukrainian poets connected themselves to a powerful myth of New York, the myth of urban modernity and problematic vitality. The city of exiles and outsiders sees itself reflected in the mirror that newcomers and exiles created. By adding new voices and layers to this amalgam, it is possible to observe the expanded picture of this worldly poetic city.
Ostap Kin is an archivist and literary researcher. He co-translated The Maidan After Hours (2017), a chapbook by Vasyl Lozynsky and Songs for a Dead Rooster (forthcoming with Lost Horse Press), a collection of poems by Yuri Andrukhovych.
New York Elegies attempts to demonstrate how descriptions and evocations of New York City are connected to various stylistic modes and topical questions urgent to Ukrainian poetry throughout its development. The collection thus gives readers the opportunity to view New York through various poetic and stylistic lenses. Ukrainian poets connected themselves to a powerful myth of New York, the myth of urban modernity and problematic vitality. The city of exiles and outsiders sees itself reflected in the mirror that newcomers and exiles created. By adding new voices and layers to this amalgam, it is possible to observe the expanded picture of this worldly poetic city.
Ostap Kin is an archivist and literary researcher. He co-translated The Maidan After Hours (2017), a chapbook by Vasyl Lozynsky and Songs for a Dead Rooster (forthcoming with Lost Horse Press), a collection of poems by Yuri Andrukhovych.
330 pages, ebook
First published February 19, 2019
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November 10, 2025
Геть змішані враження. З одного боку дуже круто що це існує, упорядчик - легенда.
Какафонія українських голосів з різних часів та досвідів, колорит Нью Йорку осліплює наче нагло видихнутий в твоє обличчя дим цигарки. Імміґраніада огорнута дотепно підібраними словами й асоціаціями які заземлюють пройдисвітів.
Кумедно було спостерігати совєтське пропагандистське конструювання Малишком Маяковського як своєрідного White Savior комуністичного типу, але й в інших ставлення до чи створення образів темношкірого населення то шаблонні, то зверхні. І це враження трохи вирівнюється чимдалі читаєш, але неприємний присмак все ж залишився
Какафонія українських голосів з різних часів та досвідів, колорит Нью Йорку осліплює наче нагло видихнутий в твоє обличчя дим цигарки. Імміґраніада огорнута дотепно підібраними словами й асоціаціями які заземлюють пройдисвітів.
Кумедно було спостерігати совєтське пропагандистське конструювання Малишком Маяковського як своєрідного White Savior комуністичного типу, але й в інших ставлення до чи створення образів темношкірого населення то шаблонні, то зверхні. І це враження трохи вирівнюється чимдалі читаєш, але неприємний присмак все ж залишився
November 20, 2025
The best poetry collection I have read so far. I want to share some of my favourites below and why:
Poetrypainting by Mykhail Semenko: This was one extraordinary type of poetry. My mother tongue is Bulgarian, not Ukranian, but many of the words are the same or similar thus I also looked at the original. I love how the poet used English/Italian words and for the other stuck to transcribing them in Cyrillic. I think it is an element that cannot be conveyed well in the translation but it is my favourite one.
Walt Whitman by Oleksa Slisarenko: A very beautiful poem about the simplicity of life. I really appreciated the pacing—it felt like the writer was taking breaths between words. The numeration of things is forever one of my favourite poetry techniques and it was employed here wonderfully.
Subway by Mykola Tarnovsky: The metaphors were so powerful here! The emotion was prominent in each word that was chosen and it made me empathetic for the suffering. The ending is as abrupt as death can only be.
In the City Where Walt Whitman Lived by Mykola Tarnovsky: I love this one so much that it found its way to my all-time favourite poems! The imagery, the invocation of the demon which I have always found fascinating, Mephistopheles, certain words such as "prophetic", "Faust" and "dynamite", the name Margarita and her love made for such an elite reading experience! I cannot help but keep falling back to the narrator's voice and the disdain at Mephistopheles. It was a wonderful dialogue of sorts.
Apotheosis by Ivan Kulyk: I am a big fan of the exclamations, especially the repetitive ones. The onomatopes were also a very nice touch that added to the kind of musical feel of the poem. The ending was like a plot twist, which I had not expected in poetry, but greatly enjoyed.
There are no mountains, there are no fields by Yevhen Malanyuk: I think the translation may not have done it complete justice. At the same time though I have great respect for the translator maintaining the rhyme in the third verse! I really liked the line “they stage races of despair.”
New York Shorthand by Yevhen Malanyuk: This one had such a good rhythm despite it being a translation! Everything flowed so well into each other until the last line. It was a bit too sudden and perhaps there could have been a better word than that, or perhaps my problem is with the choice to put a full stop after “electric” instead of comma as I think it changes how you read the lines.
New York Elegy by Yuri Kosach: This one was just so good! The imagery was so detailed and honestly rather than New York, it made me think of my WIP and the world I created. I’m especially fond of “There are no ash heaps here! There is only wrath and pride.”
Ballad of Golden Broadway by Yuri Kosach: First of all, the poet as a while has an amazing writing style that makes it addictive to read his stuff. Second, I am just obsessed with this grandiose way of narrating life which I have only seen within Bulgarian poetry and now in Ukrainian. The repetitions of let-smth-happen and “there is a country” are so powerful to me and I just adore them!
Broadway in the Evening by Dima: I was struck by the similarity of our worlds despite the 60 years of difference. Ads are indeed everywhere around us and to me, Dima described perfectly how a human feels surrounded by them everywhere they go. Especially the last two lines rang so true with their resignation but also outrage: “How can a human being / Stand so many ads?”
New York’s Air by Dmytro Pavlychko: I know that the poem is about the air as a literal thing but I think it can also be taken metaphorically as atmosphere. I appreaciate the efforts of the translator to keep the rhyme as much as possible. Also, I realise that I really just love poems that tell you what to do (“Shut your mouth, close your eyes”)!
Two Walk in the Evening by Ivan Drach: another case of me enjoying a poem which has enumeration. I just really enjoy the rhythm that it sets and definitely amplifies the feeling of outrage at the two people walking. The ellipsis at the ending indicates that the author could have kept going with the shock but decided that this illustrates the peculiarity enough!
New York Burns by Borys Oliynyk: I loved the critique on American society, especially in a historical context. The imagery was just so vivid and I kept imagining this apocalypse while reading. Even though I’m uncertain how ethical it is to compare skin tones to food and light, I quite liked the lines that name the different races in that way—I think it was very symbolic and appreciative rather than anything else.
Prometheus Doomed by Borys Oliynyk: From the moment I read the title, I just knew I’d like the poem. It was a very beautiful reimagining of the myth of Prometheus as well as of how humans might feel about his sacrifice. The “as long as you’re dying for us” line hit really hard for me.
From the White Home by Borys Oliynyk: Ince again very beautiful descriptions by Oliynyk! I like that he imagined getting away from the urban to return to the familiar. It reminded me a lot of “Oh, tell me, white cloud” (“Я кажи ми, облаче ли бяло”) by Ran Bosilek and the nostalgia was so strong! For anyone interested you can read the translation here: https://tropcho.wordpress.com/2012/03....
On Broadway by Abram Katsnelson: I like that the rhyme was preserved in English as well—I think that’s a common theme for all the poetry from this book that I like, but as a linguist I cannot help it! The imagery was original and vivid. I like how uncomfortable it can make one feel.
New York Fuckin’ City by Serhiy Zhadan: It is always interesting seeing topics like LGBT being discussed in poetry, especially older ones. Still, it felt quite respectful and even beautiful to me how the pain of the trans woman was described. I really love this quote: “like the love of trees that grow without you.”
Bombing New York City by Yuri Andrukhovych: There was a certain beauty in the way the savagery is being discussed. At the same time, the poem read like music in my head. The ending makes me wonder if it is related somehow to 911.
A Farewell to Brooklyn by Vasyl Makhno: There is something special about poetry that features diaries and writing in them—it immediately makes you feel involved in what’s going on, in the feelings you are now privy to. The flow was very good and melancholy. The swearing, brief as it was, also felt appropriate for the mixed feelings of the poet.
Eleventh Street by Maryana Savka: I quite like how the shape of the poem is preserved in English, it is part of its charm. The metaphor that Savka uses with bridges is just so beautiful to me and very graphic, which is something I always want when reading any metaphor. Also the phrase “the language of pigeons” is so suitable for a big city such as New York and so new in a way as well.
Painkillers and Sleeping Pills by Kateryna Babkina: I liked the raw feeling in this one and it certainly struck a chord. I liked “the city that never lets you sleep” line because its opposite to the usual stereotype about New York. Also the mention of GPS feels like a poetry trope that can be used more often than it is.
big fish and other bridges by Iryna Shuvalova: Reading this felt like a trip. The imagery was all beautiful. At the same time, it was reversed to what we are usually used which made for a very confusing narrative.
To R. A. by Iryna Vikyrchak: Because of the address to a specific person and the title, the whole poem feels very personal. I liked the phrases and metaphors used, especially: “and you’d select words, /and put them into an apple instead of seeds.” There is a charm in the ending being a gradual change in the verbs.
New York by Vasyl Lozynsky: A short poem, but a very impactful one. I generally dislike skyscrapers and never understood the infatuation of today’s architecture with it, so I appreciated this different take on them.
Poetrypainting by Mykhail Semenko: This was one extraordinary type of poetry. My mother tongue is Bulgarian, not Ukranian, but many of the words are the same or similar thus I also looked at the original. I love how the poet used English/Italian words and for the other stuck to transcribing them in Cyrillic. I think it is an element that cannot be conveyed well in the translation but it is my favourite one.
Walt Whitman by Oleksa Slisarenko: A very beautiful poem about the simplicity of life. I really appreciated the pacing—it felt like the writer was taking breaths between words. The numeration of things is forever one of my favourite poetry techniques and it was employed here wonderfully.
Subway by Mykola Tarnovsky: The metaphors were so powerful here! The emotion was prominent in each word that was chosen and it made me empathetic for the suffering. The ending is as abrupt as death can only be.
In the City Where Walt Whitman Lived by Mykola Tarnovsky: I love this one so much that it found its way to my all-time favourite poems! The imagery, the invocation of the demon which I have always found fascinating, Mephistopheles, certain words such as "prophetic", "Faust" and "dynamite", the name Margarita and her love made for such an elite reading experience! I cannot help but keep falling back to the narrator's voice and the disdain at Mephistopheles. It was a wonderful dialogue of sorts.
Apotheosis by Ivan Kulyk: I am a big fan of the exclamations, especially the repetitive ones. The onomatopes were also a very nice touch that added to the kind of musical feel of the poem. The ending was like a plot twist, which I had not expected in poetry, but greatly enjoyed.
There are no mountains, there are no fields by Yevhen Malanyuk: I think the translation may not have done it complete justice. At the same time though I have great respect for the translator maintaining the rhyme in the third verse! I really liked the line “they stage races of despair.”
New York Shorthand by Yevhen Malanyuk: This one had such a good rhythm despite it being a translation! Everything flowed so well into each other until the last line. It was a bit too sudden and perhaps there could have been a better word than that, or perhaps my problem is with the choice to put a full stop after “electric” instead of comma as I think it changes how you read the lines.
New York Elegy by Yuri Kosach: This one was just so good! The imagery was so detailed and honestly rather than New York, it made me think of my WIP and the world I created. I’m especially fond of “There are no ash heaps here! There is only wrath and pride.”
Ballad of Golden Broadway by Yuri Kosach: First of all, the poet as a while has an amazing writing style that makes it addictive to read his stuff. Second, I am just obsessed with this grandiose way of narrating life which I have only seen within Bulgarian poetry and now in Ukrainian. The repetitions of let-smth-happen and “there is a country” are so powerful to me and I just adore them!
Broadway in the Evening by Dima: I was struck by the similarity of our worlds despite the 60 years of difference. Ads are indeed everywhere around us and to me, Dima described perfectly how a human feels surrounded by them everywhere they go. Especially the last two lines rang so true with their resignation but also outrage: “How can a human being / Stand so many ads?”
New York’s Air by Dmytro Pavlychko: I know that the poem is about the air as a literal thing but I think it can also be taken metaphorically as atmosphere. I appreaciate the efforts of the translator to keep the rhyme as much as possible. Also, I realise that I really just love poems that tell you what to do (“Shut your mouth, close your eyes”)!
Two Walk in the Evening by Ivan Drach: another case of me enjoying a poem which has enumeration. I just really enjoy the rhythm that it sets and definitely amplifies the feeling of outrage at the two people walking. The ellipsis at the ending indicates that the author could have kept going with the shock but decided that this illustrates the peculiarity enough!
New York Burns by Borys Oliynyk: I loved the critique on American society, especially in a historical context. The imagery was just so vivid and I kept imagining this apocalypse while reading. Even though I’m uncertain how ethical it is to compare skin tones to food and light, I quite liked the lines that name the different races in that way—I think it was very symbolic and appreciative rather than anything else.
Prometheus Doomed by Borys Oliynyk: From the moment I read the title, I just knew I’d like the poem. It was a very beautiful reimagining of the myth of Prometheus as well as of how humans might feel about his sacrifice. The “as long as you’re dying for us” line hit really hard for me.
From the White Home by Borys Oliynyk: Ince again very beautiful descriptions by Oliynyk! I like that he imagined getting away from the urban to return to the familiar. It reminded me a lot of “Oh, tell me, white cloud” (“Я кажи ми, облаче ли бяло”) by Ran Bosilek and the nostalgia was so strong! For anyone interested you can read the translation here: https://tropcho.wordpress.com/2012/03....
On Broadway by Abram Katsnelson: I like that the rhyme was preserved in English as well—I think that’s a common theme for all the poetry from this book that I like, but as a linguist I cannot help it! The imagery was original and vivid. I like how uncomfortable it can make one feel.
New York Fuckin’ City by Serhiy Zhadan: It is always interesting seeing topics like LGBT being discussed in poetry, especially older ones. Still, it felt quite respectful and even beautiful to me how the pain of the trans woman was described. I really love this quote: “like the love of trees that grow without you.”
Bombing New York City by Yuri Andrukhovych: There was a certain beauty in the way the savagery is being discussed. At the same time, the poem read like music in my head. The ending makes me wonder if it is related somehow to 911.
A Farewell to Brooklyn by Vasyl Makhno: There is something special about poetry that features diaries and writing in them—it immediately makes you feel involved in what’s going on, in the feelings you are now privy to. The flow was very good and melancholy. The swearing, brief as it was, also felt appropriate for the mixed feelings of the poet.
Eleventh Street by Maryana Savka: I quite like how the shape of the poem is preserved in English, it is part of its charm. The metaphor that Savka uses with bridges is just so beautiful to me and very graphic, which is something I always want when reading any metaphor. Also the phrase “the language of pigeons” is so suitable for a big city such as New York and so new in a way as well.
Painkillers and Sleeping Pills by Kateryna Babkina: I liked the raw feeling in this one and it certainly struck a chord. I liked “the city that never lets you sleep” line because its opposite to the usual stereotype about New York. Also the mention of GPS feels like a poetry trope that can be used more often than it is.
big fish and other bridges by Iryna Shuvalova: Reading this felt like a trip. The imagery was all beautiful. At the same time, it was reversed to what we are usually used which made for a very confusing narrative.
To R. A. by Iryna Vikyrchak: Because of the address to a specific person and the title, the whole poem feels very personal. I liked the phrases and metaphors used, especially: “and you’d select words, /and put them into an apple instead of seeds.” There is a charm in the ending being a gradual change in the verbs.
New York by Vasyl Lozynsky: A short poem, but a very impactful one. I generally dislike skyscrapers and never understood the infatuation of today’s architecture with it, so I appreciated this different take on them.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews