{"id":47073,"date":"2025-04-01T09:43:46","date_gmt":"2025-04-01T14:43:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/?p=47073"},"modified":"2025-04-08T11:54:13","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T16:54:13","slug":"wings-by-lina-kostenko","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/?p=47073","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;Wings&#8221; by Lina Kostenko"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My Ukrainian <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.enginprogram.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ENGin<\/a><\/strong> buddy, and <em>Friend of the BLOTT<\/em>, has shared one of her favorite poems with us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>\u041a\u0440\u0438\u043b\u0430<br><em>by Lina Kostenko<\/em><\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Kryla (Wings)<br><em>by Lina Kostenko<\/em><br><\/strong>(Translated from Ukrainian by Elder G)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">\u0410 \u043f\u0440\u0430\u0432\u0434\u0430, \u043a\u0440\u0438\u043b\u0430\u0442\u0438\u043c \u0491\u0440\u0443\u043d\u0442\u0443 \u043d\u0435 \u0442\u0440\u0435\u0431\u0430. \u0417\u0435\u043c\u043b\u0456 \u043d\u0435\u043c\u0430\u0454, \u0442\u043e \u0431\u0443\u0434\u0435 \u043d\u0435\u0431\u043e. \u041d\u0435\u043c\u0430\u0454 \u043f\u043e\u043b\u044f, \u0442\u043e \u0431\u0443\u0434\u0435 \u0432\u043e\u043b\u044f. \u041d\u0435\u043c\u0430\u0454 \u043f\u0430\u0440\u0438, \u0442\u043e \u0431\u0443\u0434\u0443\u0442\u044c \u0445\u043c\u0430\u0440\u0438.<br><br>\u0412 \u0446\u044c\u043e\u043c\u0443, \u043d\u0430\u043f\u0435\u0432\u043d\u043e, \u043f\u0440\u0430\u0432\u0434\u0430 \u043f\u0442\u0430\u0448\u0438\u043d\u0430\u2026 \u0410 \u044f\u043a \u0436\u0435 \u043b\u044e\u0434\u0438\u043d\u0430? \u0410 \u0449\u043e \u0436 \u043b\u044e\u0434\u0438\u043d\u0430? \u0416\u0438\u0432\u0435 \u043d\u0430 \u0437\u0435\u043c\u043b\u0456. \u0421\u0430\u043c\u0430 \u043d\u0435 \u043b\u0456\u0442\u0430\u0454. \u0410 \u043a\u0440\u0438\u043b\u0430 \u043c\u0430\u0454. \u0410 \u043a\u0440\u0438\u043b\u0430 \u043c\u0430\u0454!<br>\u0412\u043e\u043d\u0438, \u0442\u0456 \u043a\u0440\u0438\u043b\u0430, \u043d\u0435 \u0437 \u043f\u0443\u0445\u0443-\u043f\u0456\u0440\u2019\u044f, \u0410 \u0437 \u043f\u0440\u0430\u0432\u0434\u0438, \u0447\u0435\u0441\u043d\u043e\u0442\u0438 \u0456 \u0434\u043e\u0432\u0456\u0440\u2019\u044f. \u0423 \u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e \u2014 \u0437 \u0432\u0456\u0440\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0456 \u0443 \u043a\u043e\u0445\u0430\u043d\u043d\u0456. \u0423 \u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e \u2014 \u0437 \u0432\u0456\u0447\u043d\u043e\u0433\u043e \u043f\u043e\u0440\u0438\u0432\u0430\u043d\u043d\u044f.<br>\u0423 \u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e \u2014 \u0437 \u0449\u0438\u0440\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0456 \u0434\u043e \u0440\u043e\u0431\u043e\u0442\u0438. \u0423 \u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e \u2014 \u0437 \u0449\u0435\u0434\u0440\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0456 \u043d\u0430 \u0442\u0443\u0440\u0431\u043e\u0442\u0438. \u0423 \u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e \u2014 \u0437 \u043f\u0456\u0441\u043d\u0456, \u0430\u0431\u043e \u0437 \u043d\u0430\u0434\u0456\u0457, \u0410\u0431\u043e \u0437 \u043f\u043e\u0435\u0437\u0456\u0457, \u0430\u0431\u043e \u0437 \u043c\u0440\u0456\u0457.<br>\u041b\u044e\u0434\u0438\u043d\u0430 \u043d\u0456\u0431\u0438\u0442\u043e \u043d\u0435 \u043b\u0456\u0442\u0430\u0454\u2026 \u0410 \u043a\u0440\u0438\u043b\u0430 \u043c\u0430\u0454. \u0410 \u043a\u0440\u0438\u043b\u0430 \u043c\u0430\u0454!<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">A person doesn\u2019t seem to fly\u2014<br>But has wings.<br>Yes\u2014has wings!<br>Not those made of fluff or feathers,<br>But of truth, virtue, and trust.<br>Sometimes from sincerity in work,<br>Sometimes from poetry, from song,<br>From the art of love,<br>From tenderness, from striving,<br>From deep loyalty to someone,<br>From dreams, from hope, from yearning,<br>From a springtime thunderstorm\u2014<br>From the burst of joy,<br>From a heartfelt sorrow.<br>A person flies not with wings,<br>But with soaring thoughts. A person doesn\u2019t seem to fly\u2014<br>But has wings.<br>Yes\u2014has wings!<br><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00a0<br> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"695\" height=\"521\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZOq6Vtf1CDE\" title=\"A Powerful Poem- &quot;The Wings&quot; by Lina Kostenko - Performed by Bogdan Stupkaa\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><br><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"926\" height=\"521\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/06rOGEA_zvc\" title=\"Lina Kostenko - Wings\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">An Overview by Elder G<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oh, <em>Kryla<\/em> (\u201c<strong>Wings<\/strong>\u201d) is one of Lina Kostenko\u2019s most beloved and inspiring poems\u2014short, powerful, and deeply metaphorical. It\u2019s often quoted in Ukraine as a reminder of the human spirit\u2019s capacity to rise above adversity. In this poem, Kostenko uses the symbol of <em>wings<\/em> not in the literal, physical sense, but as a metaphor for what gives life meaning\u2014things like love, hope, knowledge, creativity, dignity, and freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Themes in <em>Kryla<\/em>:<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Wings as inner strength:<\/strong> Kostenko rejects the idea that wings are just for flying. Instead, she says <em>\u201cPeople do not fly, but they have wings.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Human values:<\/strong> She lists what these metaphorical wings might be\u2014truth, sincerity, loyalty, dreams, love, talent, even suffering and music. These are the things that allow us to transcend our circumstances.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Freedom and resistance:<\/strong> Written during Soviet times, the poem subtly but powerfully suggests that real freedom comes from within\u2014an idea that carried special resonance for Ukrainians under Soviet rule.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Beauty and uplift:<\/strong> Despite its brevity, the poem soars with a sense of hope, purpose, and transcendence. It\u2019s often memorized by schoolchildren in Ukraine.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/tXkguJKlrtmhZn8lINof-0-w5qf7.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"47078\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/tXkguJKlrtmhZn8lINof-0-w5qf7.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47078\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/tXkguJKlrtmhZn8lINof-0-w5qf7.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/tXkguJKlrtmhZn8lINof-0-w5qf7-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Pqy2HMcuHJB3MOgvCdyV-0-ul0n3.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"47079\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Pqy2HMcuHJB3MOgvCdyV-0-ul0n3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47079\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Pqy2HMcuHJB3MOgvCdyV-0-ul0n3.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Pqy2HMcuHJB3MOgvCdyV-0-ul0n3-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/YYfyAAleKhfYif5gKZ6L-0-1ufr8.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"47077\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/YYfyAAleKhfYif5gKZ6L-0-1ufr8.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47077\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/YYfyAAleKhfYif5gKZ6L-0-1ufr8.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/YYfyAAleKhfYif5gKZ6L-0-1ufr8-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/YYfyAAleKhfYif5gKZ6L-0-1ufr8-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lina Kostenko<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oh yes, Lina Kostenko is a towering figure in Ukrainian literature\u2014a poet of fierce intellect, moral clarity, and lyrical brilliance. Born in 1930 in Rzhyshchiv, Ukraine, she rose to prominence during the post-World War II era and became one of the leading voices of the <em>Sixtiers<\/em> (Shistdesyatnyky), a group of Ukrainian intellectuals and artists who resisted Soviet repression through cultural expression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kostenko is best known for her poetry, which blends deep emotional insight with historical consciousness and a strong commitment to justice and national identity. Her work is characterized by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Lyrical intensity<\/strong> \u2013 Her poems are both beautiful and biting.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Courage<\/strong> \u2013 She openly criticized the Soviet regime, which led to censorship and suppression of her work for many years.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Philosophical depth<\/strong> \u2013 She tackles big themes: time, truth, love, memory, and the soul of her people.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Devotion to the Ukrainian language<\/strong> \u2013 She saw preserving and elevating the Ukrainian language as a sacred duty.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of her most celebrated books is <em>\u201cMarusia Churai\u201d<\/em> (1979), a historical novel in verse based on a legendary 17th-century Ukrainian folk singer. Through this work, Kostenko reflects on themes of love, betrayal, identity, and the cost of war\u2014resonant both in the past and now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She\u2019s still living\u2014though very private\u2014and is regarded almost as a national treasure in Ukraine. Many Ukrainians can quote her lines by heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/rLNuMmRHloDMcowtZvO8-0-a83sb.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"47082\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/rLNuMmRHloDMcowtZvO8-0-a83sb.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47082\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/rLNuMmRHloDMcowtZvO8-0-a83sb.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/rLNuMmRHloDMcowtZvO8-0-a83sb-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/DWVlOlGVB0828iTH5yLn-0-2u9i3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"47084\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/DWVlOlGVB0828iTH5yLn-0-2u9i3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47084\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/DWVlOlGVB0828iTH5yLn-0-2u9i3.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/DWVlOlGVB0828iTH5yLn-0-2u9i3-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/GQ64npimhHpbj3otpH43-0-5ovfj.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"47083\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/GQ64npimhHpbj3otpH43-0-5ovfj.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47083\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/GQ64npimhHpbj3otpH43-0-5ovfj.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/GQ64npimhHpbj3otpH43-0-5ovfj-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lina Vasylivna Kostenko (Ukrainian: \u041b\u0456\u043d\u0430 \u0412\u0430\u0441\u0438\u043b\u0456\u0432\u043d\u0430 \u041a\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0435\u043d\u043a\u043e; born 19 March 1930) is a Ukrainian poet, journalist, writer, publisher, and former Soviet dissident. A founder and leading representative of the Sixtiers poetry movement, Kostenko has been described as one of Ukraine&#8217;s foremost poets and credited with reviving Ukrainian-language lyric poetry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:26% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"391\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/\u041a\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0435\u043d\u043a\u043e_\u041b.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47086 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/\u041a\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0435\u043d\u043a\u043e_\u041b.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/\u041a\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0435\u043d\u043a\u043e_\u041b-192x300.jpg 192w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lina Vasylivna Kostenko was born to a family of teachers in Rzhyshchiv. In 1936, her family moved from Rzhyshchiv to the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv, where she finished her secondary education.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:auto 35%\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From 1937 to 1941, she studied at the Kyiv school #100, located on Trukhaniv Island, where her family lived. The school, in addition to the rest of the village, were burned by Nazi forces in 1943. The poem <em>I Grew Up in Kyivan Venice<\/em> is devoted to these events.<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1025\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Lina_Kostenko.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47088 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Lina_Kostenko.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Lina_Kostenko-234x300.jpg 234w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Lina_Kostenko-768x984.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>And you thought that Ukraine was so easy to understand? Ukraine is great. Ukraine is exclusive. Throughout history, others have bulldozed through Ukraine. Ukraine has endured endless trials and tribulations. My country is tough. In today\u2019s world, that\u2019s priceless!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u2014\u200aLina Kostenko<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<cite><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lina_Kostenko\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wikipedia<\/a> \/ Image By keymaster &#8211; \u041b\u0456\u043d\u0430 \u041a\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0435\u043d\u043a\u043e \u2014 maidan.org.ua, GFDL<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Humorous Side Note: Lina Kostenko and Wordy Derds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Amidst the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Kostenko criticized the usage of obscene language and publicly opposed its appearance in the media, on billboards, and postage stamps. This was primarily a reaction to slogan &#8220;Russian warship, go <strong>&amp;@%$<\/strong> yourself,&#8221; which became very popular in Ukraine in response to the Russian invasion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:61% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/jQdxPBxvDKEROhyzrxds-1-ewwto.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47093 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/jQdxPBxvDKEROhyzrxds-1-ewwto.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/jQdxPBxvDKEROhyzrxds-1-ewwto-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/jQdxPBxvDKEROhyzrxds-1-ewwto-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/jQdxPBxvDKEROhyzrxds-1-ewwto-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kostenko felt the slogan, and its use of Russian language vulgarity, reflected poorly on Ukraine and the beauty of the Ukrainian language, stating: &#8220;there is, perhaps, no other such thing [as the Ukrainian language] in the whole world. The language is a nightingale, while the devil is blabbering on.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<cite><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lina_Kostenko\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wikipedia<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Deeper Dive into the &#8220;Vulgarity&#8221;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And to what was <strong>Lina Kostenko<\/strong> referring?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ukraine introduced the design for a new postage stamp that memorializes a now-famous battle cry rallying the country in its fight against the Russian invasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The stamp \u2014 called &#8220;Russian warship, go f*** yourself!&#8221; \u2014 references an interaction on Snake Island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/8db373f80fef.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1023\" height=\"912\" data-id=\"47096\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/8db373f80fef.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47096\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/8db373f80fef.jpg 1023w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/8db373f80fef-300x267.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/8db373f80fef-768x685.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1023px) 100vw, 1023px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Ukrainian Postal Service (Ukrposhta) announced the stamp design after holding a public vote on social media for a postage stamp competition meant to commemorate the soldiers who defended a military outpost on the island last month.<\/p>\n<cite><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2022\/03\/13\/1086371078\/ukraine-russian-warship-postage-stamp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NPR<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also available as a hoodie \/ Tee&#8230;. Please specify your size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/irl_250331_0110.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"485\" height=\"771\" data-id=\"47097\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/irl_250331_0110.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47097\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/irl_250331_0110.jpg 485w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/irl_250331_0110-189x300.jpg 189w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 485px) 100vw, 485px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Semi-Sequitur: Admiring the Ukrainian Spirit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I don&#8217;t know what I admire more, the Ukrainian sense of humor, or their unbeatable spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/03-31-2025_11_46_AM.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"890\" height=\"1325\" data-id=\"47098\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/03-31-2025_11_46_AM.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47098\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/03-31-2025_11_46_AM.jpg 890w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/03-31-2025_11_46_AM-202x300.jpg 202w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/03-31-2025_11_46_AM-688x1024.jpg 688w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/03-31-2025_11_46_AM-768x1143.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 890px) 100vw, 890px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.courthousenews.com\/eu-court-nixes-trademark-for-russian-warship-go-fk-yourself\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Courthouse News<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Imagery of &#8220;Wings&#8221;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-6 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/9aVfkP5T6vSCNpREnQvP-0-oksdu.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"47101\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/9aVfkP5T6vSCNpREnQvP-0-oksdu.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47101\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/9aVfkP5T6vSCNpREnQvP-0-oksdu.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/9aVfkP5T6vSCNpREnQvP-0-oksdu-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/9aVfkP5T6vSCNpREnQvP-0-oksdu-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/9aVfkP5T6vSCNpREnQvP-0-oksdu-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/geqnDw0W8wbcJD27yChx-0-ftyw4.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"47102\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/geqnDw0W8wbcJD27yChx-0-ftyw4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47102\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/geqnDw0W8wbcJD27yChx-0-ftyw4.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/geqnDw0W8wbcJD27yChx-0-ftyw4-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/geqnDw0W8wbcJD27yChx-0-ftyw4-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/geqnDw0W8wbcJD27yChx-0-ftyw4-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SDRDwwpivLEikFn3DPiQ-0-dn86s.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"47100\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SDRDwwpivLEikFn3DPiQ-0-dn86s.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47100\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SDRDwwpivLEikFn3DPiQ-0-dn86s.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SDRDwwpivLEikFn3DPiQ-0-dn86s-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SDRDwwpivLEikFn3DPiQ-0-dn86s-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-7 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/T5CnTjBPKeIviVdRulAA-0-o36k7.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"896\" height=\"1152\" data-id=\"47106\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/T5CnTjBPKeIviVdRulAA-0-o36k7.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47106\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/T5CnTjBPKeIviVdRulAA-0-o36k7.jpg 896w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/T5CnTjBPKeIviVdRulAA-0-o36k7-233x300.jpg 233w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/T5CnTjBPKeIviVdRulAA-0-o36k7-796x1024.jpg 796w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/T5CnTjBPKeIviVdRulAA-0-o36k7-768x987.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 896px) 100vw, 896px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/n1V9GCjxp08yC1Wmc069-0-8c87u.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"47105\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/n1V9GCjxp08yC1Wmc069-0-8c87u.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47105\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/n1V9GCjxp08yC1Wmc069-0-8c87u.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/n1V9GCjxp08yC1Wmc069-0-8c87u-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/unBFwqcwmnlrq5U90vMn-0-on00t.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"47104\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/unBFwqcwmnlrq5U90vMn-0-on00t.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47104\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/unBFwqcwmnlrq5U90vMn-0-on00t.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/unBFwqcwmnlrq5U90vMn-0-on00t-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/unBFwqcwmnlrq5U90vMn-0-on00t-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-8 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/n0E8uJBbRpVTysRxJP5f-0-q8rqn.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"47108\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/n0E8uJBbRpVTysRxJP5f-0-q8rqn.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47108\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/n0E8uJBbRpVTysRxJP5f-0-q8rqn.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/n0E8uJBbRpVTysRxJP5f-0-q8rqn-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/5WRdgKXNq7RIfOJGBLds-0-v2z3x.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"47110\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/5WRdgKXNq7RIfOJGBLds-0-v2z3x.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47110\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/5WRdgKXNq7RIfOJGBLds-0-v2z3x.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/5WRdgKXNq7RIfOJGBLds-0-v2z3x-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/NEFLPIjjQ7evtrlue1au-0-25ttv.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"47109\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/NEFLPIjjQ7evtrlue1au-0-25ttv.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47109\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/NEFLPIjjQ7evtrlue1au-0-25ttv.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/NEFLPIjjQ7evtrlue1au-0-25ttv-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/NEFLPIjjQ7evtrlue1au-0-25ttv-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Full Creative License<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We asked <strong>Elder G<\/strong> to take off the gloves and explore his\/her creativity with <em>Wings<\/em>&#8230;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/QzuXgkT9oYotCIdLas3a-0-6i3c0.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"47113\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/QzuXgkT9oYotCIdLas3a-0-6i3c0.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47113\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/QzuXgkT9oYotCIdLas3a-0-6i3c0.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/QzuXgkT9oYotCIdLas3a-0-6i3c0-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/dpfrqYI0vwOzGa8d0mqE-0-s7ff4.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"47114\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/dpfrqYI0vwOzGa8d0mqE-0-s7ff4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47114\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/dpfrqYI0vwOzGa8d0mqE-0-s7ff4.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/dpfrqYI0vwOzGa8d0mqE-0-s7ff4-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6Z5Kkh2cKDmFQmHwCtUM-0-oc9df.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"47112\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6Z5Kkh2cKDmFQmHwCtUM-0-oc9df.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47112\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6Z5Kkh2cKDmFQmHwCtUM-0-oc9df.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6Z5Kkh2cKDmFQmHwCtUM-0-oc9df-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6Z5Kkh2cKDmFQmHwCtUM-0-oc9df-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-10 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Rps9BEW2C9Fs51AZK2cL-0-dl8aq.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"896\" height=\"1152\" data-id=\"47119\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Rps9BEW2C9Fs51AZK2cL-0-dl8aq.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47119\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Rps9BEW2C9Fs51AZK2cL-0-dl8aq.jpg 896w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Rps9BEW2C9Fs51AZK2cL-0-dl8aq-233x300.jpg 233w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Rps9BEW2C9Fs51AZK2cL-0-dl8aq-796x1024.jpg 796w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Rps9BEW2C9Fs51AZK2cL-0-dl8aq-768x987.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 896px) 100vw, 896px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/fJEKuGZRZDLPWZQGsg4T-0-8erw4.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"47118\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/fJEKuGZRZDLPWZQGsg4T-0-8erw4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47118\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/fJEKuGZRZDLPWZQGsg4T-0-8erw4.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/fJEKuGZRZDLPWZQGsg4T-0-8erw4-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/k6mjf55Rl8FpQVVMDWLr-0-u3oax.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"47116\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/k6mjf55Rl8FpQVVMDWLr-0-u3oax.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47116\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/k6mjf55Rl8FpQVVMDWLr-0-u3oax.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/k6mjf55Rl8FpQVVMDWLr-0-u3oax-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/v4DMlqTuOhpgTF07WkYv-0-eqav3.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"47120\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/v4DMlqTuOhpgTF07WkYv-0-eqav3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47120\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/v4DMlqTuOhpgTF07WkYv-0-eqav3.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/v4DMlqTuOhpgTF07WkYv-0-eqav3-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6LANlFaUOEfnOJOP3Wxn-0-jfbjm.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"47117\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6LANlFaUOEfnOJOP3Wxn-0-jfbjm.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47117\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6LANlFaUOEfnOJOP3Wxn-0-jfbjm.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6LANlFaUOEfnOJOP3Wxn-0-jfbjm-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6LANlFaUOEfnOJOP3Wxn-0-jfbjm-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I love this AI image &#8211; the girl in the front is saying, &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to get my picture taken!&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-11 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/bDJ0y7VKJrNuAp7MNSCc-0-q4qed.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"47122\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/bDJ0y7VKJrNuAp7MNSCc-0-q4qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47122\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/bDJ0y7VKJrNuAp7MNSCc-0-q4qed.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/bDJ0y7VKJrNuAp7MNSCc-0-q4qed-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>My Ukrainian ENGin buddy, and Friend of the BLOTT, has shared one of her favorite poems with us. \u041a\u0440\u0438\u043b\u0430by Lina Kostenko Kryla (Wings)by Lina Kostenko(Translated from Ukrainian by Elder G) \u0410 \u043f\u0440\u0430\u0432\u0434\u0430, \u043a\u0440\u0438\u043b\u0430\u0442\u0438\u043c \u0491\u0440\u0443\u043d\u0442\u0443 \u043d\u0435 \u0442\u0440\u0435\u0431\u0430. \u0417\u0435\u043c\u043b\u0456 \u043d\u0435\u043c\u0430\u0454, \u0442\u043e \u0431\u0443\u0434\u0435 \u043d\u0435\u0431\u043e. \u041d\u0435\u043c\u0430\u0454 \u043f\u043e\u043b\u044f, \u0442\u043e \u0431\u0443\u0434\u0435 \u0432\u043e\u043b\u044f. \u041d\u0435\u043c\u0430\u0454 \u043f\u0430\u0440\u0438, \u0442\u043e \u0431\u0443\u0434\u0443\u0442\u044c \u0445\u043c\u0430\u0440\u0438. \u0412 \u0446\u044c\u043e\u043c\u0443, \u043d\u0430\u043f\u0435\u0432\u043d\u043e, \u043f\u0440\u0430\u0432\u0434\u0430 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[105,29,148,55],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-47073","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-engin","category-heros","category-poetry","category-ukraine"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47073","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=47073"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47073\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47428,"href":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47073\/revisions\/47428"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=47073"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=47073"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=47073"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}