Hanna Komar at the Start of a Very Promising Career as Poet and Translator
Hanna Komar at the Start of a Very Promising Career as Poet and Translator

Summary/Abstract: This article seeks to introduce to a new English-speaking readership a talented poet and translator who, like many other young Belarusians, now lives outside her country of birth. Even at a relatively early stage in her career, the strikingly original poetry of Hanna Komar already impresses with its thematic boldness and candor. It draws upon a wide and distinctive imaginative range, makes subtle use of assonance, and commands an extensive lexical spectrum, all without succumbing to the influence of Russian, so pervasive elsewhere. Deeply patriotic, Komar not only depicts the protests and their brutal suppression, but also seeks to render in verse—often based on interviews—the feelings and impressions of those who have been driven abroad by a ruthless regime. Her poetry has been widely translated, and she has also demonstrated initiative and skill in bringing the work of Charles Bukowski into Belarusian. It is to be hoped that Komar will soon receive the broad recognition she so unquestionably deserves.

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