A beautiful beginning to a poem about a beautiful woman.
It reminds, as March 8th approaches, of the Ukrainian women I've met. This will be my eighth March 8th in this country.
Beauty yes. But, beauty deep. Strength, character, charm, and a little fuzziness in relations sometimes all call forth the concept of beauty.
They are there; they stand, it magnifies the beauty.
Who do we think of? Athena, Goddess of wisdom who protected Hercules from Hera?
Or Aphrodite, Goddess of beauty, love, and sexual desire.
Or we can think of Queen Olga. Of Ukraine, a magnificent, powerful human, with influence today.
And Anna Yaroslavna. Queen of France in the 11th Century. One of the few literate people of the French Court. This Ukrainian woman married the less literate French King Henry I in 1049 and was of great importance and influence in his Court.
Born in a small village near present day in the top northeast-most corner of present day Ivano Frankvisk Oblast in 1505, Nastia Lisovsha, better known in history as Roksolana, was captured at age 15 by Crimean Tatars and sold into slavery. Her charm, beauty and guile led her to become the Sultan's chief consort and advisor. The Sultan married her and she became the most powerful woman in the Ottoman Empire. She was famous in all Europe. Her oldest son, Selim II became the leader of the Ottoman Empire. There is an impressive statute of her in the town of Rohatyn near the village where she was born.
What does one say when one comes to a place where he finds women of beauty, style, unusual to him intelligence, and guile? A way of dressing, even without too much to spend.
A Ukrainian woman can seem to make magic of just a few pieces of cloth. An ensemble is generated, beautifully it seems out of almost nothing in the way of a complete wardrobe. And the result is magnificent. An American woman with three closets of clothes "can't find anything to wear".
I like seeing newcomers to this country.
I was one and what I relate could be me.
Well, first reaction is to stammer something to one's compatriot "Did you see that?" But, one hasn't time as the neck turns frantically to catch up with the eyes. Picking oneself up off the street to avoid the on rushing vehicle after stumbling over the curb, one adjusts. It's spring in Kyiv.
Now Western women buy and wear fancy undergarments too. Victoria's Secret is really no secret. In the West, well America, where I come from the catalogs are all over the place. So we know about that stuff and, sometimes, though rarely, get close enough to see.
But in Kyiv, in spring there is a smarter idea. I don't know how the logic goes. But I see the result. So I imagine the logic. "Well, I've bought these beautiful garments. So why shouldn't they be seen?" Makes one heck of a lot of sense to me.
And, winter isn't really that bad either. The long coats cover all the beautiful Ukrainian woman. Well, not exactly, they have a way of moving those things around. And the boots. And the long dresses with the side and/or back slits. More coffee please. Or, I think, I'll go to the flat and take a shower.
What else? Think of the reputed beauty of Cleopatra, the wisdom and charm of the Queen of Sheba as she squired Solomon. Heck, why not Tarzan's Jane, Xena the Warrior Princess from TV, Monroe and Bardot, and Superwoman? Ah, think of present day famous singer-performer Ruslana. And what about recently-fired, but still very politically active and important ex Prime Minister Yulia Tymoschenko.
Also think of Esther and Ruth. (For more quite thinking of the virtues of the Ukrainian woman.)
But, don't step on Superwoman's cape. Ukrainian women are proud.
Ukrainian men, we are with you as you honor and pay respect and tribute to the Ukrainian woman.
She walks in beauty, yes. But also she walks in respect, with our love.
On this March 8th, and always.
Editor's Note
A before March 8th response to a great holiday for a most noble purpose. The piece is an updated version of an article done for the UO five years ago.
|
