A Letter From The 20th Century Poem by Larisa Rzhepishevska

On the 22nd of June in 1941
The Great Patriotic War in my Motherland had begun.
It was Sunday early morning,
the country peacefully slept,
but a horrible idea Hitler had kept.
Without announcing the war he had given order
to bomb the Soviet Republics border.
Hitler planned to capture the country
by unexpected military actions.
He was sure to occupy the country
and turn into slaves the nations.
But his plans failed
and his wailing voice was deadened
by the voice of Levitan,
the Russian radio announcer
who reported about the war.
Then everyone swore
to defend our Motherland
and stand up to the end, hand in hand.
Hitler didn’t understand
that Soviets were not the gangland or the analysand.
He forgot that he was the aggressor
and the people of my country were the defenders.
He had to know the mentality of Russians,
Ukrainians, Georgians, Armenians…..
and more than 100 other nationalities.
Their destinies were not to be the slaves,
they would rather die
and sleep in the graves.
Hitler had to know the native soul
which would never live on someones dole.
That horrible war lasted almost 4 years.
They were the years of fears, hunger and grief.
The war was a thief.
It took away millions of lives,
but those who survived
would never forget the war.
And more: they’ve become even stronger than before.
Therefore, many questions still remain:
What for? Why? Where is the truth? Where is the lie?
Who will deny the war?
Are we on the right shore?
Should we think a bit more
so as to create a world of love and peace?
Why do some people only think how to seize?
Why don’t they give?
Why don’t they share?
Why is the truth very rare?
There are so many questions to ask.
But… I give you one task:
Answer my questions, please!
Give me the keys!
Let me feel at my ease!
If you are a man, a human being,
I hope you understand this.

The 22nd of June 2010 -
The day of the growing Moon,
The day of memory in the 21st century,
The testamentary day from the 20th century,
The day not to forget the fascist felony,
To remember the heroes
who didn’t want to live in helotry.
All over the world
the obelisks as the souls
are tearing themselves away from the land
telling us to withstand the war
and walk together hand in hand.


Larisa Rzhepishevska (Odessa, Ukraine)