Michas Skobla: Ryhor Baradulin was granted to Belarusan literature with allowance for growth

What role did Ryhor Baradulin play in the Belarusan literature? What is so unique about his works?

Michas Skobla, a literary critic, tried to answer these questions during the lecture “The voice and logos of Ryhor Baradulin”, which took place on March 28 in Minsk “U” Gallery. The event was organized within the framework of “Urbi et Orbi” public lectures together with the International Consortium “EuroBelarus”.

There is no doubt that it is quite hard to tell something new about such figure as Ryhor Baradulin. Everyone is discovering his personal Baradulin. Starting the lecture, Michas Skobla admitted that he would speak about his own Baradulin, too.

According to the literary critic, the works of Ryhor Baradulin form the gold reserve of Belarusan culture. “He was granted to Belarusan literature with allowance for growth. We still have a long way to go before we begin to understand him”, - stated Michas Skobla.

Ryhor Baradulin has always stood out among Belarusan poets. Not only his rhymes are unique; his poems abounded with uncommon words. Some of them he might have heard from the people; some of them he invented himself. These words went well together with his poetry to become the gems of Belarusan language.

The lecturer mentioned that in our literature no one can be compared to him in the imagery of language.

All that couldn’t but be difficult for translators. Michas Skobla is convinced that Ryhor Baradulin is an untranslatable poet, as in translations his poems lose its uniqueness. At the same time, through translations Baradulin was enriching the works of other poets: Belarus’ People’s Poet translated the poems from 37 languages, paying special attention to the poets of ill-fated small nations. One of the Caucasus republics even granted him with the pieces of land for his translations.

However, his native Ushachy area, his homeland Belarus has always been closer for him.

It seems somewhat strange to speak about Ryhor Baradulin using the past tense. However, there is no doubt that we should study the legacy of the true People’s Poet. So, let us hope that the lecture by Michas Skobla from “Urbi et Orbi” cycle is far from being the last event dedicated to the study of Ryhor Baradulin’s poetic heritage.