WASHINGTON – On Sunday, January 17, the District of Columbia chapter of the Shevchenko Scientific Society presented a reading of contemporary Ukrainian poetry. An enthusiastic audience filled the coffee room at the Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Family to hear selected works by fellow parishioner Slava Hart, also known by her pen-name of Yarka Bohach.
Darian Diachok read several selections and commented briefly on Yarka Bohach’s verse. Next, co-pastor Rev. Wasyl Kharuk read some further poems. To the surprise and delight of the audience, he performed a musical rendition of a poem written in “Kolomyika” form. The author herself then read some of her latest works, which were warmly received.
Originally from Lviv, Ms. Hart currently lives in Arlington, Virginia. Her first poetry collection, “Chuyesh Ptakhu…Tse Ya,” was published in Lviv in 2012 by the well-known Kameniar publishing house. It is available as an e-book published by Glagoslav Publishers.