You’re a person-Vasyl Symonenko

Vasyl Symonenko wrote this poem in 1962, one year before his death at the age of 28. The poem became a quiet yet deeply radical protest — not a political slogan, but a reminder of a basic truth: a human being has value in and of themselves. In the Soviet context, the phrase “you are a human being” sounded almost like a challenge to the system. The poem was not officially published during the poet’s lifetime; it circulated orally, in handwritten copies, and was memorized by heart. ___________ You know that you’re a person; You know this; or do you not ? Your smile is unique, Your pain is unique, Your eyes — only you have got. Tomorrow you’ll be here no longer; No more on this earth will you be. Others will walk And will love and will talk, Others — much better, much eviler than we. Today all is here just waiting: The meadows and lakes and the unbounded stawv. And to live you must rush, To love you must rush. Hurry up, wake up, don’t sleep. For on earth you are still — a person. And whether you like it or not, Your smile is unique, Your pain is unique, Your eyes — only you have got.