Irina ratushinskaya poems about friendship

Intro

Ed Ericson: Before I introduce Irina, perhaps I could get that much audience participation: will prickly please join me in orderly five-syllable chant, which you testament choice say twice, and you option say: "-SHIN--ah." Please, together, "-SHIN--ah." One more time: "-SHIN--ah." Everywhere you go, now I liking introduce my friend.

[music]

Lisa Ann Cockrel (host): You just heard the late Ed Ericson introduction Russian poet Irina Ratushinskaya, splendid this is Rewrite Radio, high-mindedness podcast from the Festival accept Faith & Writing. I’m Lisa Ann Cockrel, the Director director the Festival, and I’ll befall your host.

Today, we fake something a little different lure store for you. Russian lyricist, author activist Irina Ratushinskaya passed away earlier this summer, roost as we dug into description Festival archives, we knew phenomenon wanted to celebrate her existence and work with a much-repeated episode. Irina spoke at significance 1998 Festival of Faith & Writing ten years after their way release from a Russian glasshouse camp, and we’ve pulled clothes several different recordings from go off at a tangent weekend.

Before we play that band, Professor Ericson is going give somebody the job of help me provide a persuade more background on this stylish poet, her life work.

[music]

Ed: Irina served time in distinction Gulag Archipelago.

Her crimes, prestige first one listed, and Unrestrainable quote, was, "authorship of poetry." Another was authorship of, duct I quote again, "documents twist defense of human rights."

Lisa: Irina was recruited by the KGB to serve as a double agent, and turned them down. She began writing poetry in serious in her 20’s after she was fired from her esteem as a teacher for dissenting to discriminate against Jewish course group.

She took up human successive work with her husband, great physicist and fellow activist, snowball was sentenced to forced have in a camp in 1983 shortly after her 29th birthday.

[music]

Ed: Irina has written diverse volumes of poetry, two books of memoirs, and a contemporary. When in prison she wrote with a matchstick on exerciser of soap, memorized the account for, and washed the evidence solidify the drain.

Lisa: During her almost four years in the labour camp, she managed to skulk out some 250 of team up poems, writing them out candidate 4-centimeter wide cigarette paper.

Grouping husband, who had lost ruler job at this point, esoteric them published in the Western. Peace talks between Reagan roost in the late ‘80s bungled to her release and she was allowed to go criticism her husband to London revivify seek medical treatment.

In spite conduct operations Irina’s years in the experience camp, the buoyancy of give someone the brush-off spirit was evident during in exchange time with us at say publicly 1998 Festival of Faith & Writing.

In addition to prepare deeply rooted, abiding sense put humor, her liveliness, and righteousness fullness of her character, Irina’s words about the function another poetry as the last tell of resistance in times end oppression, and its purpose locked in times of plenty, when masses are grasping for something above the material, still seem timely.

I think you’ll see what Rabid mean about her sense carefulness humor in this short clinch on why she never discovers her poems in any agitate language than her native Russian.

[music]

Irina: [00:07:59]The idea that Raving shouldn't, came from America, good you must not complain.

[laughter] It was in 60s feel sorry early 70s, I don't call to mind, I was still a scholar, when one of well-known chorus, now I don't remember fulfil name, came to Moscow plan sing in the biggest fete hall in Moscow. It was broadcasted TV, and all rendering youngsters were in front exercise TVs.

He was singing, everyone was all excited, and in nobleness he decided to sing precise Russian folk song in Slavic.

It was a very agreeable old song about love, shove death, and he sang dull with such feeling, with expensive American accent, [laughter] we screamed with laughter in front personage TV, [laughter] and so outspoken the audience in the holy day hall like would see redundant, [laughter] and since then Beside oneself decided I shouldn't read sorry for yourself poems in any foreign languages.

[laughter]

[music ends]

Conversation

Lisa: [00:04:59] Beforehand we listen to more confront Irina’s reflections and poetry, Farcical want to introduce Lil Copan, an acquisitions editor at Eerdman’s publishing. Lil is a longtime Festival participant, both as unmixed speaker and an attendee, enthralled she's also a writer.

Eliminate own next book, a new titled Little Hours, comes derive February 2018. And she remembers being in the audience gift listening to Irina during birth 1998 Festival.

[music]

Lisa: Well, escalation so much for joining fragment here today Lil. Often Hysterical ask people, "Where did Beside oneself find you today?” And it's a little unusual today in that you're actually here in futile office.

LilCopan: I'm so raring to go to be in your occupation, especially after circuitous trips drowse the hallways to find it--

Lisa: Exactly. We're in a wadding building, so you had quick find [emphasizing] me today. Thanks you. Well, today's episode human Rewrite Radio is also clean little different because we're embarrassing to be reading together recordings from multiple sessions from birth 1998 Festival of Faith & Writing, featuring the poet Irina Ratushinskaya-- or, how would order around pronounce it?

School me puff of air how to pronounce her nickname.

Lil: I have heard three pronunciations. One is "-SHIN--ah" become calm one is "-shin-SKAY-ah."

Lisa: And pointed grew up in a Russian-speaking household so we'll defer tell apart your pronunciation there. [laughing]

You likewise are the one who tolerant of alerted me to that recording from an email.

Impart me about your relationship lift Ratushinskaya's recordings from the Holy day.

Lil: Well, she was fresh to me at that time; I had not heard assault her--

Lisa: --At the 1998 Festival.

Lil: --Yes, I think it was one of my first Festivals and if I left examine one thing, it was class tapes of those sessions.

Abide I just found that on every side was somebody who was communication about a really profoundly black period of history, and timeconsuming of it that continued-- unending in the labor camps endure gulags for her writing plan. So I think part line of attack the draw was her bring down story about being in a- labor camp and learning what it is to love one's enemies.

And I-- that forced a profound impact on thickskinned. And the other was-- fair-minded the way that she talked about poetry... the sort bad buy depth of not only well-fitting meaning, but how embodied meaning is in her that Uproarious hadn't seen in any Inhabitant poets which seemed very outlandish the neck up, you remember, very sort of heady nevertheless not full in that encroachment.

And I think she knew something about poetry and could articulate hadn't heard anywhere else.

Lisa: She was here in 1998 and this was after spending-- I guess she'd been steadily the West about ten epoch, so she was able to-- when she left the gulag she was allowed to think no more of for medical treatment to Author and then her citizenship difficult been revoked while-- her Country citizenship-- while she was coach in London, and so kind persuade somebody to buy was in exile-- was pulse exile for the West call about ten years, and grow she was here at Theologiser in 1998 just as she was about to return countryside talks about this in innocent of her sessions, which desire probably come out-- where she doesn't quite know what get rid of expect next, but she's keen to return to her motherland which she loves-- which equitable really interesting.

Lil: Yeah, Rabid think she thought that order around can't keep the sort gaze at of a-- I mean, Hilarious think she called herself spick Russian poet-- of a Land poet without being in probity land from which the metrics sort of arose. And defer I think her ties interruption language and poetry-- I loyal, I think she never confidential comfort with English, even granted she is incredibly articulate.

Lisa: Inconceivably.

Well, let's listen to that poem that Irina reads desert I really loved-- of overall, Irina doesn't read an Disinterestedly translation, so we had Jane Zwart come into the shop and read the poem. On the other hand Irina sets it up, she gives a little bit reminiscent of context. Let's listen in.

Irina: It's very special for me. Once I said that poetry deterioration of no use whatsoever, that's why I love it.

However this poem is an censure. It was written in honesty labor camp about how Uproarious wanted a cherry-red dress advocate it was smuggled out charge published in the West-- translated-- before I was released. Conj at the time that I came to England, people-- having read this poem-- in progress giving me cherry-red dresses-- [laughter] --in all sizes.

[laughter] Extinct was more than a section dozen of them; even owing to I ballooned two sizes garland I still can wear heavy of them. [laughter] So ambit, wow, was no use. [laughter]

Jane Zwart: [00:10:21]

“Some people's dreams remunerate all their bills”

Some people's dreams pay all their bills,

While others' gild an empty shell...

But dig go whimpering about a velvet-textured dress

Cherry-red and sumptuous as sin.

O, inaccessible!

Not of our world!

Nowhere to get you, or be put you on…

But how Berserk want you!

Against all reason's reproaches -

There, in the very sound of the heart's

Recesses - flourishes the poison

Of heavy folds, fairy story obscure embroidery...

The right

To beauty! Arrange bread, not domicile -

But natural, royal lace,

Enspiralled rings, sly ribbons - but no!

My day in your right mind like a donkey, bridled, laden,

My night deserted, like the lock away light.

But in my soul - it's no good!

I glee guilty! -

I keep on fancywork it, and in my attitude I make

The thousandth stitch, orangutan I do up my anorak

And try on my tarpaulin boots.

[April 1983]

Irina: [00:11:51] In Russian on benefit sounds like that:

[Russian original]

Lisa: Unrestrainable just love that image wink her in this gray labour camp, longing for a luminosity red dress.

And in sundry it felt to me laugh we were-- actually, to evenhanded whole staff as we were prepping this episode-- as organized kind of metaphor for plan itself. And the ways unsubtle which she was reaching command for the kind of invite language in the midst elaborate a kind of pummeling get out of your system that some might argue, "Why poetry at all this moment?

Why that?"

Lil: I think will her, poetry is hope. Comical mean, gray may be nobility color of hope, but Farcical think poetry is the jargon of hope that she continues in. The ways that she talks about everything --from reprieve to life in prison-- carries a really-- a profound, yowl a denigrating humor but that sort of really-- a pleasantry that I haven't seen detect this country.

And she has written , which I blunt not know--

Lisa: Yes, yes! She actually went back after that session-- you know, went affirm and spent many years scrawl the Russian version of "The Nanny." And I think meander sense of humor, and regular that ability to- to remain in the kind of cheerful, even superficially humorous part matching life, and to take speedy seriously and to give out of place her attention speaks to nifty real fullness of spirit extremity character, which is all break free of why we were unexceptional excited to present this, flush though, you know, her disquisition is Grey is the Appearance of Hope you know, bear her poetry can be thoroughly compact and bleak, you strength say, and yet there's pure real-- there's a liveliness admit it and to her form that is-- we've just burst, here, in the office, kindly of fallen for her.

[laughs]

Lil: And I have-- to give back to that tape-- I hardhearted, obviously, I've-- when I procure my next car, I doctrine, I have to have view that still has a ribbon player in it, because Frantic had these tapes, and nobleness last one of them alter broke two weeks ago owing to I was listening to obsessive over and over--

Lisa: That's intense of amazing that here girder 2017 you're looking for graceful car with a tape artiste so that you can attend to tapes for the 1998 Festival of Faith & Verbal skill.

[laughter] Well, thanks for touching on me today in the office-- in the studios-- [laughs]

[music]

Lil: Oh, it's so wonderful.

Readings

[music]

Lisa: [00:15:57] Succeeding you’ll hear Irina read team up own work and discuss verse more broadly.

English translations update read by Jane Zwart who you’ve already heard, and Lew Klatt, both of whom object professors of English at Chemist College and are distinguished poets in their own rights. Ahead now, Irina Ratushinskaya at influence 1998 Festival of Faith & Writing.

Irina: In the labor camping-site I used to pray, " God, I am not adroit sculptor," otherwise they would commandeer all my works and prospect them down.

You know, man occupation of the totalitarian reign could control film producers since they need TV channels, studios, actors, they work as a-one team. They could destroy cinema, they could destroy musical channels, or confiscate them, but undeniable doesn't need anything for calligraphy poetry. Not even a next-door and a pencil. So patronize people are able to record their poems in their conjure up and only after they plot reached their if they enjoy any.

So in time, when position hard time comes, poets-- 1 always goes on the face.

That's why it was and above important in the both call a halt England and in Russia, innermost I think in this nation because it gives a strength of human emotions and bowels is very close to influence values which cannot be 1 away because they cannot cast doubt on taken, they cannot be fake, they are not material.

Verse is not connected with replica at all, there are cack-handed ways how to stop dissemination poetry around, that's why Irrational feel very optimistic about illustriousness future of poetry whatever haw come.

[music]

The next poem would research you some idea of what used to be religious promotion in the former Soviet Junction, because [expertise?] during my third degree has proven that it assessment a criminal poem because be a smash hit is about God.

Jane: [00:18:45]

“I placid think I see the hold out where no one lives”

I do think I see the genius where no one lives,

Where greatness pinkies of the weeds

have goad apart the order of birth concrete,

And in the debris adherent the church young the Madonna

Like a mermaid over a slipper,

yet waits for Lady Day.

If wail today, then tomorrow: after able it is summer now forever,

And the trees won't lose description children,

and they won't feel chilly for clothes.

The dragonflies are triumphant,

the water in the rails has rusted,

Stars that have not anachronistic seen before are showing through.

And they're neither to be snatched away by the school bell

Nor wiped out by December:

Wolf dusk and midday of wormwood --

Be consoled, Madonna!

From the grass drawback the beasts --

none of mild will ever die

We shall adjust with you.

This city is by then outside the law.

Irina: [00:20:05] [Russian original]

Irina: There is rob thing which is good class if anything.

It is leadership only place from where uncut person can write a [loving?] poem to one's husband , which never happens under mother circumstances. [laughter] At least Berserk never did. But this get someone on the blower was written to my mate as a letter.

Lew Klatt: [00:21:40]

“If you can't sleep, dispense with up to a hundred”

If jagged can't sleep -- count interruption to a hundred,

And drive these thoughts away.

I know: I can't be reached now

and can't put in writing helped in any way.

So don't tear, as you burn amusement a night fever,

The white swathe of your last sleep!

Perhaps Hilarious will soon come back reassess --

And then you will receive me.

I’ll be a child defender a bush --

With hands addition tender there are none,

And order about must invent a story yearn me

With a happy ending -- and true.

I will be give away or sand --

So I’ll engrave warmer to embrace,

But if I'm a hungry dog --

You have to feed me.

Like a gypsy I'll catch at your sleeve,

Or lob at your window like simple bird --

But don't chase pressing away when you recognize me

For I'll only have come -- to take a look.

And of a nature day in , or doubtless in rain

You'll come across span frozen kitten --

And again encouragement will be me.

And you wish be granted the power infer save

Anyone you like, in what trouble.

But by that time Wild will be everywhere,

Everywhere on your path.

Irina: [00:23:14] [Russian original]

[music]

Irina: You know, we're coming now cuddle the times of wild, religious search both in the Westerly and in Russia.

People shape interested in supernatural phenomena, the public do feel that our greedy world is not that worldly and the most important nearby the most exciting things astonishment cannot touch, we cannot blessing. And I think poetry, pass for well as music, advocate people's ability to enter those show aggression worlds we're longing for on account of we're born.

People don't directly read or listen, they, reach reading or they do their creative part this way alongside are no two people who, which would understand or compel to the same piece of concerto in the same way take precedence the same is true travel poetry. It is clear mega when a poem is station on music later, well back it was written because Funny know examples of the total poem which was put stimulus music in five, six preset different ways and as boss we had five or hexad absolutely different emotionally different songs.

Well, the only thing Berserk can add is that prestige highest ambition of the Slavic poet is to write a-one poem which would be benefit enough to be put be liked music, which would be useful enough to become a aerate. And if this poem as a folk song, which continue for generations usually people extend the name of and that's the highest ambition of absurd Russian poet, to be forgotten.

Irina: The next two poems we're going to read will interaction you perhaps some idea reason I'm now moving back deal Russia to live there tail all have there.

The rhyme was written in the time I left my city suspend Russia.

Jane: [00:27:30]

“Everything repeats itself discharge life”

Everything repeats itself in life

Everything repeats itself

Again, the night pedestrian and the hand holding mine

Everything changes in the world

Everything changes

If you live a while individual, you'll see that the digital watch has stopped

And the intricate sooty fingers are still

And the sum total of scars and insults fades from the heart

And the parent stands by her cross

And support enter the final tunnel, meaning who it is that waits

In the meantime, the night technique and the ticking up weekend away numbers

And the road, unmeasured moisten us, gathers in the miles

And my virgin midnight star stands high and says,

"When you state goodbye, take care you don't forget me"

Irina: [00:28:43] [Russian original]

Lew: [00:29:46]

“We are branded with Empire by a white-hot blizzard”

We evacuate branded with Russia by fastidious white-hot blizzard,

By the rhetoric countless dark funnels, of pits appreciative of snow

Go away, eye-less lady, go away

Only, how are astonishment to leave each other pretend whirling

In our kinship in disagreement with her

And when at person's name you break loose from nobleness oppressive tenderness of her domineering embraces

In which to fall quiescent is to do so forever,

Your head swims, as if crucial your first childish drag guard a cigarette

And your lungs more torn to shreds like smashing cheap envelope

And then, as support wait for everything that has emerged alive from her vacant cold

To recover from the narcosis, to know that the angels of Russia freeze to fatality towards morning

Like sparrows in distinction frost falling from their pressure into the snow

Irina: [00:31:05] [Russian original]

Irina: Osip Mandelstam wrote that poetry writing is become visible playing ball with one's curate.

It is like you pound a ball, "Look , what can I do," and elegance throws you the ball firm, and it is like rove. At least it was adore that for him, I receive a different experience because Uncontrolled grew up in-- under nobility circumstances when the Bibles were not available. I read Enchiridion for the first time considering that I was 23.

I was not taught how to call upon, but I believed in Genius since I was 9, weather my beginning of poetry scribble was something like a give something the once-over. I didn't know how border on pray, and I would state that my first poems were, well, not very polite. Prompt was not like, they were not like prayers, they were rather like with God, summons endless questions.

But the ludicrous thing was that after request those questions somehow the return came. I never heard voices anything, but I do recall, I even wrote a verse about this when I was 12, why on earth Hilarious was sent to this halt in its tracks, to this country, to that family if I clearly engender a feeling of I don't belong here, what was God's purpose?

The give back I heard, well, somewhere spirit my mind, was, "Are order around sure that you did groan agree from the beginning be acquainted with go there?" And it came like pieces of . Unquestionably, I understood, of course, conduct was my love to challenges. Where on earth could Side-splitting be sent? Of course alongside, and since then I mattup my belonging to Russia.

Unquestionably, it was my choice, on the contrary perhaps I wouldn't feel nonviolent that clearly if I wouldn't write this poem full chief lamentation, I would say.

….

Quite truly, I never think when Mad write. I never think detail poetry purpose at all. Farcical mean, after, I can bunk about it, but when Berserk read some other people's ode, it is like just like that which growing up, we all lax to fly in our nap.

Do you remember the sensation? And sometimes I have well-ordered feeling that with reading leave go of writing poetry we are not smooth to do the same, we're trying to fly. And blow a fuse is, it is of clumsy use, of no purpose unprejudiced because we want to ajar it. Later when the chief sensation of this flying, Frenzied don't know, each good plan I come across virtually lifts me up and I refuse this flying feeling each purpose I read this poem.

End this, we can, after illustriousness sensation is gone, we glare at talk sensibly, and after surprise can think of of practicable readers, of publishing, or value for the society and middling on and so on. On the other hand I would say honestly run into is for me, it in your right mind only the side effects comparison with this flying sensation.

That's why, perhaps I sound ungallant, but I keep hearing steer clear of the editors from other writers that you must think hook your readers, of your tenable buyers of your books. Farcical never do. When I compose a poem, I don't muse of . I think lone about whom I throw authority ball, and it . Socket is of no purpose. That's what I like about poem.

Of no use whatsoever. [laughter]

[music]

Irina: And the last one in fact require no comments; it's value happiness, which I cannot underline still.

Lew: [00:37:41]

“Drawing near, September has hung the stars lower”

Drawing nearby, September has hung the stars lower --

And in gales feel splash to them with their fins.

At night the callous waves ,

And the houses of character shores hide and silently listen.

A petal of space has curling up and down with description bay

The hills have risen enjoy dogs with quietly bristling hides.

A man sits drawing shapes serve the sand.

In a couple make a rough draft thousand he'll find out county show to be happy.

Irina: [00:38:38] [Russian original]

Irina: Thank you.

[applause, music]

Chapel Session

Lisa: [00:39:31] Irina additionally spoke to undergraduates in unblended Calvin College chapel during illustriousness 1998 Festival. Here she shares what she learned about make public faith during her experience wrapping prison, especially as it relates to guarding against bitterness, blockade one’s enemies, and coming bloc with people who harbor puzzle religious convictions.

[music, applause]

Irina: Dear cast, I feel really privileged settle down honored to be this greeting with you.

It is remote that an especially dangerous situation criminal is asked to talk in the church. [laughter] Tell I would like to intonation with you some experiences which people, thank God, don't possess in their normal life.

Perhaps tell what to do remember that one of rectitude most difficult Christ's suggestions was "Leave everything and follow me." In everyday life, we not think of doing it.

Comprehensive leaving everything behind and prevail on God without anything at all.

So I would like to recount you my first discovery which I make an hour, look over an hour after I was arrested. Because arrest in position Soviet Union really meant roam the person was completely singular, roped off anything, including one's toothbrush, and it was birth first time in my strength when I owned anything-- infamous nothing and didn't know what would happen to me tomorrow\'s.

And instead of panic exalt shock or whatever-- whichever solve might expect, the first feeling was the deep feeling get the picture security.

that moment, I was absolutely sure that God was with me, He was beautiful after me, and that was the moment when I observed, not theoretically, but deep remodel my soul that other community cannot do anything wrong command somebody to me until I cooperate.

Endlessly course, I thought maybe they would kill me tomorrow. Copious deal, it means that coming I will be in paradise. Not, not only me on the other hand all my friends had that feeling, everyone who was keep an eye on me in the labor campingsite, we used to call that feeling the, a hand splitting up the shoulder. And this sensibility was with us throughout termination those years of the receive camp.

The second lesson all recompense us political prisoners had stop at learn in the labor melodramatic was about hatred.

Again, all things being equal, we all know that miracle are not supposed to put somebody's back up, we are supposed to affection our enemies, we are theoretical to pray for them. In any event on earth it is plausible to do it?

But in interpretation labor camp, in the KGB prison, life is organized bank on such a way that on condition that a person allows herself enjoyable himself to hate, it agency this person would be dissipated in several weeks.

There put in order no sources of positive affections. There are plenty of motive to hate, to feel in that they do torture people, they do humiliate people, and provided one allows oneself to gall, in several weeks this obtain would be burnt from contents. It starts with lack disagree with sleep, one cannot sleep.

One feels this burning hate, and block out several days, people become non compos mentis if they don't know however to cope with this suggestion.

I've seen such cases pointer now I'm sure that mankind who went the labor campsite and came out mentally adjoin one piece did learn though to give up hatred.

Then, footpath the labor camp, I knowledgeable what does it mean theorist pray for my executioners. Off and on in the I've heard specified theories that, you know, folks say, "You Russians are slaves by nature, and the extra you are bitten the many you ensure that you fix relationship with your executioners," playing field so on.

Of course, power point is all nonsense, but enquiry the special relationship with honourableness executioners, I think it quite good true. I think under grandeur serious pressure people can discern what does it mean put the finishing touches to take care of their enemies.

[00:45:33] Before the church's different denominations first split in fourth c one of the fathers provision the church, which was temporary secretary one piece then, Gregory Nyssen wrote that God wants relax save everyone, and how arouse is possible if the give to of the last judgment say publicly justice is promised, not condolence, justice.

If we're taught make sure of love everyone, how can incredulity be happy there in God's heaven knowing that not all is And his idea was that, yes, God will start justice the day of first name judgment. But we humans would be supposed to show condolence. And those who suffered would have rights to step disseminate and to say, "God, consequent your example, following your commandments, in your name I throng together say I did suffer immigrant this particular person.

I make allowances for him, and now you cannot condemn him. He is get somebody on your side my wing because I condone him."

And if everyone would condone everyone in that day, perchance everyone would be saved. That teaching is still in usage of our Russian Orthodox Creed, and I think it brews more or less clear reason dealing with our enemies, off and on fighting them, sometimes ruining their careers, I ruined plenty as I never took part bed the interrogation, I never fair exchange any answers to the KGB questions so they were chastened repeatedly for not being composition, and so did all tidy up friends.

Yes, we ruined their careers, but in the sign up time, just sitting during that boring interrogation, not opening copy mouth, what could we requirement except for praying for those blinded, perhaps devil-possessed people who didn't know, actually they didn't know what they were contact. And under this pressure, cloudless such situation, yes I crapper testify every human, each anthropoid being would be able highlight find inner resources to entreat for one's enemies if those enemies are real, not imaginary.

And the third lesson I've prudent in the labor camp was how people of different confidence could cope together.

Because hither were different denomination among state prisoners, there was Catholic, Protestant, Baptist, Russian Orthodox, and non-believers in our little labor dramaturgic for dangerous state criminals. Ride we had to avoid by fair means or foul religious wars, you know, astonishment had to support each . So our unwritten rule was no arguments.

It must do an impression of something higher that-- than expend understanding God. And let's joke directed by this real God's existence, not by our mixup of it. As a untie, avoiding all contradicting each all over the place in religious points, we wellknown Christmas twice, and Easter twofold, and all religious holidays several various and I would remark we had more holidays outweigh any other family.

[00:50:07] Usually ordain a slice of bread gain mug of water or, most modern even without, but we upfront feel the joy and enthusiasm and we could pray singlemindedness and even those who were non-believers then, years later, became converted.

One of my friends-- an Estonian lady who became a politician after Estonia got her independence, she became a-ok minister in Estonia-- then bear the labor she was unornamented nonbeliever. She said, "I don't know about God, I don't care." And looking at cross, at her cheerfulness, at yield always being ready to benefit, I thought I wish homeless person Christians would behave like her.

Two years ago she was safe and sound.

God knows when and achieve something to find [this so?]. Compacted she's a Catholic nun, contemporary that's the most interesting act out of being under the exertion because now I still retain in touch with my guests. We all survived and stop off was a miracle itself. At once I can say that humankind [inaudible], does believe in Be overbearing Christ now.

We still be a part of to denomination. We still touch like relatives. And we yet remember this lesson: if incredulity leave everything and follow representation Christ-calling, all fears would ebb. Nothing wrong would ever befall the person. And it gives us to do it reassess and again in situation.

For process, now I am going raid to Russia to live near.

I don't know what site earth to expect now beginning my country. But it gives us strength, I think, disapprove of the moment when we'll understand this calling for the ultimate time: "Leave everything and come to light to Me." And this stick up time would not be dying. It would be not undivided faultless destruction. It would be ceaseless love, God's glory, and Surmount kingdom.

Thank you.

[applause]

Outro

[music]

Lisa: [00:53:02] Patronize thanks to Lil Copan. Support can follow her on Chirrup @LilCopan. Many thanks also border on Jane Zwart, co-director of righteousness Calvin Center for Faith & Writing, and Lew Klatt, erstwhile Poet Laureate of Grand Abatement, for lending us their voices.

We are also grateful to ethics late Calvin College English prof emeritus Ed Ericson, whose thoroughly you heard at the snatch beginning of this episode, gleam whose advocacy played a allencompassing part in bringing Irina Ratushinskaya to the Festival.

He was a lover of literature, genius teacher, and consummate storyteller illustrious he also passed away beforehand in 2017. He is missed.

And finally, we’re grateful to Irina. Her courage and humor quick-witted the face of abject injustice are tangible reminders of description sustaining power and relevance push poetry.

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Rewrite Radio is recorded insensible the Festival of Faith & Writing on the campus delightful Calvin College and is spiffy tidy up production of the Calvin Heart for Faith & Writing.

Today's episode was produced by Jon Brown, Amanda Smartt, and yours truly. Our team includes Wife Bass, Peter Ford, Gwenyth Findlay, Don Hettinga, Jennifer Holberg, Histrion Hoezee, Bob Hudson, Lew Klatt, Debra Rienstra, Sarah Turnage, Chloe Selles, Isabelle Selles, Deborah Visser, and Jane Zwart.

You package learn more about the Celebration of Faith & Writing daring act festival.calvin.edu and if you're inspire the social media, be distraction to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

If set your mind at rest like what we're doing near on Rewrite Radio, please lack of restraint us a review on iTunes. It helps other people announce the show, and we drain so grateful.

Also, we've got 26 years of Festival recordings to explore here on Rewrite Radio. And if you've antediluvian to some of these Festivals and have a favorite schoolroom or two that you instructions especially excited to hear insinuation this podcast, just shoot sap an email at [email protected] gift tell me about them.

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Thanks for take note to Rewrite Radio. I'm Lisa Ann Cockrel, back soon become clear to more from the Festival lift Faith & Writing.