April 21, 2017

A house we know and love

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As many published memoirs about the Ukrainian Displaced Persons appear on the scene, this small 46-page book (in Ukrainian), “Tale of the Little House by the Little Woods,” by Luba Gawur is a unique gem.

It is not a summary of historical events, but rather an introspective reflection on universal experiences and emotional upheavals of many post-World War II Ukrainian refugees. In the author’s words, “…it is the chronicle of a happy childhood yet laden with history’s heavy sorrows.”

As the author traces her nostalgic journey from Lypovets, Ukraine, where her mother was born, to Kent, Ohio, the boundaries between memories, imagination and actual events disappear in an allegorical tale of the search for a lost home. Ms. Gawur’s narrative style is like an embroidered mosaic in which scenes move back and forth, from life in the homeland to here. She weaves memories, journal entries, fragments of songs, letters and prayers into vibrant patterns enhanced by pure lyricism of her own poems.

The book is divided into six chapters, “Branches,” each focusing on specific aspects of family. As the mother, father, two daughters and Bunia (grandmother) seek comfort and joy in their little house, walls expand “with the rhythm of its residents’ inner life.”

The home hearth is the “kukhnia” (kitchen), where the daughters read, study, learn. It is filled with scents, tastes and sounds of ritual foods, fragrant pastries and the traditional borscht mixed with a big wooden spoon that sometimes threatens the young girls when they misbehave. Here, Mama rules over cooking and baking, while Bunia, the keeper of stories, embroiders and instills values and wisdom at every step.

Daily activities and ordinary household objects hold treasured secrets, each with a story of love and loss. They trigger our own memories and tales about Ukraine, the ever-present anxiety and anticipation filled with faith and hope, the trek through displaced persons camps to America, and the belief that ultimately all roads lead to home.

The world around the little house, enlarged through a child’s imagination, becomes a magical fairyland. When Mama walks with her small daughter into neighboring woods, the trees and forest creatures teach them about harmony, nature’s bounty, beauty and enchantment. In the garden, seeds rooted deep in rich soil, on both sides of the ocean, blossom to nourish body and soul.

Ms. Gawur’s poetic treatise evokes that which is familiar and cherished by all of us who grew up in similar circumstances. It captures the heart and spirit of the Ukrainian home. And that is its intrinsic gift.

Ms. Gawur is a poet and translator. Born in Ohio, she completed studies in Slavic languages at Kent State University and the University of Toronto, and obtained an M.A. in library science. She has lived in Toronto, New York, Prague and Kyiv, and currently resides in Kent, Ohio. Her poetry and translations have been published in numerous journals and periodicals.

“A Tale of the Little House by the Little Woods” can be ordered directly from the author by e-mailing [email protected], calling 330-673-0439, or writing to her at 601 Woodside Drive, Kent, OH 44240.

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