Beetles and Cherry Blossom

Beatles and Cherry Blossom - Хрущі над Вишнями
Fluorescent acrylic on wood
11х14 inches
By Marina Malyarenko 

This painting was inspired by my favorite poem written by the
famous Ukrainian poet, Taras Shevchenko, in 1847. The poem tells
about a beautiful and pleasant evening in a Ukrainian village, with
beetles buzzing above the cherry garden. But the story behind it is
remarkable! Shevchenko wrote this poem while he was in prison in
Saint Petersburg. He had been arrested by russians on suspicion of
being part of Ukrainian secret political society in Kyiv. Despite
being in prison, he did not divulge any information to the secret
police. As he had no other paper available, he wrote this
beautifully positive poem on a page from the Bible.

A cherry orchard by the house
(«Sadok vyshnevyi kolo khaty»)
A cherry orchard by the house.
Above the cherries beetles hum.
The plowmen plow the fertile ground
And girls sing songs as they pass by.
It's evening-mother calls them home.
A family sups by the house.
A star shines in the evening chill.
A daughter serves the evening meal.
Time to give lessons-mother tries,
But can't. She blames the nightingale.
It's getting dark, and by the house,
A mother lays her young to sleep;
Beside them she too fell asleep.
All now went still, and just the girls
And nightingale their vigil keep.
Taras Shevchenko, 1847