Matvii Smirnov

Matvii Smirnov is a Ukrainian poet based in the United Kingdom. Born in Lviv, Ukraine, in 1974, he has lived in London since 2004. His Ukrainian poetry and English translations have been featured in various Ukrainian and international literary magazines and anthologies, including Dzvin (Lviv), Dnipro (Kyiv), Khreschatyk (Germany), Of Poets & Poetry (US). Matvii is the author of the poetry collection Shibboleth (Шібболет, Kyiv, 2024). Beyond his literary work, he is engaged in industrial innovation, and serves as the founder and director of Shield UA, a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Translations in London Ukrainian Review:

Tetiana Vlasova, ‘dance my little bird, right in the middle of town.

Contact: matveysmirnov@yahoo.com


Iya Kiva, ‘a frozen sea’

Author: Iya KivaTranslationTranslator: Amelia GlaserTranslator: Yuliya Ilchuk

a frozen sea of people rolls stones around its mouth
this dead language of a time we’ll turn to
when the wind cuts life’s thread like a flower […]

trans. by Amelia Glaser and Yuliya Ilchuk

Maksym Kryvtsov, ‘Amid voicing’

Author: Maksym KryvtsovTranslationTranslator: Helena Kernan

Amid voicing
and amid silence
among the trees and the insects
and a fearsome metal seagull. […]

trans. by Helena Kernan
// TODO: add more posts with same tag as [slug] here