POETRY OF MYKHAILO DYACHENKO IN UKRAINIAN LEGAL PUBLICATIONS DURING 1939–1944

Abstract

The article provides a characterization of the pre-war creative work of Mykhailo Dyachenko (better known under the pseudonym of the insurgent poet «Marko Boyeslav»). It presents facts from his biography related to the creative development of the talented young man during the period of II World War. The poetic heritage of M. Dyachenko from the interwar period and the times of II World War is described. It is noted that his early attempts at writing did not yet have independent artistic value but already showed literary talent. On the other hand, the poetry of the II World War era, which was included in the collection «They Will Come» (1941, Prague) and published in the pages of contemporary press, was more mature in terms of content and form. However, the poet was not able to completely rid himself of imitating the creative style of poets such as Bohdan Kravtsiv, Yevhen Malaniuk, and others. The article collects and publishes the poems that were printed in the pages of legal Ukrai nian magazines such as «Silsky Hospodar» («Countryman»), «Krakovski Visti» («News of Krakow»), «Doroha» («Road»), «Mali Druzi» («Little Friends»), «Ilustrovani Visti» («Ilustrated News»), «Studentski Prapor» («Student Flag») and others. It is noted that these poems did not make it into the poet’s collections and were not known until recently, not only to the average reader but also to researchers of his work. A brief literary analysis of these poems is provided. It is emphasized that throughout his life, the main motif of M. Dyachenko’s creativity remained reflections on the fate of the Motherland and calls to fight for its liberation. Keywords Mykhailo Dyachenko («Marko Boyeslav»), poetic heritage, Ukrainian legal magazines, II World War.