Raman Abramčuk – Вершы для храмаў, сіза, ічу (Poems for churches, jails and cells)
Illustration: Arkadź Bruśničnik
hochroth Minsk
Berlin, 2024
ISBN: ISBN 978-3-949850-48-6
Language: Belarusian
This book was lucky to become the first one for Raman Abramčuk, although he has been writing poetry for a long time. Abramčuk is known as a poet and the leader of the “City Wall” (“Гарадскі вал”) band, with which he performed songs based on his own and other people’s poems. He is known as a dedicated city guide and explorer of his native Minsk, as well as a famous bike traveler. It is obvious that in the poetic persona of Raman Abramčuk, all these roles come together. But the first impetus to become the author of his own book was given by the Belarusian events of 2020. This climactic personal experience of prison and emigration gave rise to the poems full of events, names, dedications, and dates. These texts aspire to become the documents of their time, so that not a single detail is forgotten.
“Poems for churches, jails and cells” were written in churches, jails and cells, which makes them a living and genuine testimony. These are painful poems. Sometimes they are sharp and merciless, like our times, but they are always extraordinary, daring, and bribeless. Sometimes they are uncompromising and pungent, but at the same time they are full of unobtrusive love and sincerity. There is no room for lyricism and tenderness here, but even in this terrible chronicle there are glimmers of hope and the paths leading home.
Raman Abramčuk was born in Minsk. Graduated from the Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts. Graduate of the School of Young Writers at the Union of Belarusian Writers. His early poetry was first published in the late 2000s on the website of the “Naša Niva” newspaper. His later poetic series appeared on the portal “Textura” and in such Belarusian newspapers as “Litaratura i Mastactva” and “Biełaruś Litaraturnaja”. Abramčuk took part in the poetic reading organized by “Textura” portal, as well as the musical and literary project “Vieža Miru”, and the “Spravа” festival. In 2018, he became one of the laureates of the “One Poem Festival” literary competition.
In 2022, his poetical series on the political protest, emigration and war was translated into eight European languages as part of the “Free All Words” project.
Between 2010 and 2020, Abramčuk was the author-performer and the leader of the Minsk musical band “Haradski Vał”. The band recorded several studio albums and singles. Their music is based on the texts by Abramčuk and other Belarusian poets.
Abramčuk currently lives in Warsaw.