Галина Верд – поетеса та Одеса / Блог

I found myself wondering, what exactly is “I,” a woman of Odesa, today? Not who, but what—that is, what does this embodiment truly represent?

What is an Odessan woman?

She is the one who, after a sleepless night under the horrific attacks of kamikadze drones and terrifying explosions overhead, paints her lips with bright red lipstick, puts on a cashmere hat, and rushes to the sea—to breathe in freedom.

What is an Odessa woman?

She is the one who posts her beautiful photos on social media, replies to friends, runs a contest, fills out spreadsheets, while her own temperature is nearly forty degrees, her nose is running, and her red eyes can barely see—but heaven forbid anyone should suspect. And then, no sooner has she felt a slight relief, she is again—at the sea—to breathe, to feel, to contemplate, to capture the waves and the gusts of life that persist.

What is an Odessa woman?

She is the one whose soul is full of tears for every victim of the past and

the day before yesterday, week, month, year, and you can see it if you look very deeply into her eyes.

What is an Odessa woman?

She is the one whose heart aches for every young man currently standing with a weapon in his hands for her, for her sea, for that ship on the horizon, for the child running nearby, whoever’s it may be. And for her own children, for her own dreams, and for her personal aspirations. He does not surrender. He does not retreat. He does not flee. No matter how hard things get. And he never shows weakness—she draws inspiration from this example, and likewise, she does not surrender. She does not retreat. She does not flee. Instead, she puts on a cashmere hat, paints her lips with bright red lipstick, and goes out to breathe, to inspire, to create poetry, prose, love, and life.