by Svetlana Goryacheva
Member since:
June 4, 2006

SONG OF FAR EAST (A Miniature – Poem in Prose)

December 15, 2008 02:17 PM UTC (Updated: December 17, 2008 09:01 AM UTC)
views: 0 | comments: 50

 

... I remember hearing this melody

When I was just a young girl,

And since these golden old days

It followed me everywhere.

 

This was not just a song

Once performed under moonlight,

Accompanied by measured clanging

Of an eternal tambourine -

 

This was a world of its own,

Where the scarlet dawn breaks,

Where cold ocean waves

Lap over misty stone shores.


Kingdom of fur-seals and walruses,

Where herds of reindeers seek lichens,

Studded with black spots of yarangas,

Gracious only for moss and divers.

 

Land filled with smell of tundra,

Cloudberries crusted with rime,

Spicy sparks of mighty Pacific

And a lonely shaman's invocations.

 

O Sedna, Great Empress of Sea,

O Spirit of Earth, all-embracing,

Listen to his rhythmical chanting

And bless this severe far land...

 

Svetlana Goryacheva

 

December 15, 2008


 

My dear American friends - meet your closest neighbors on Russian Far East- Chukchi! This song is called "Nunlingran" (the name of a Chukchi settlement) and performed by Chukchi-Eskimo Dance and Song Ensemble named "Ergyron" ("Sunrise" in the Chukchi language).


 

 

Comments: 50

Christine K. Dec 15, 2008, 2:19pm UTC
Beautiful!
Sandi S. Dec 15, 2008, 2:26pm UTC
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
Donald Hawley Dec 15, 2008, 2:27pm UTC
Yes, beautiful, Svetlana. Thanks again.
Svetlana Goryacheva Dec 15, 2008, 2:33pm UTC
The inscription (to the degree I can read it):

Moscow - 9400 km.,

Petropavlovsk-on-Kamchatka - 2124 km.,

Alaska, USA - 4 km 600 m. (!),

Northern Pole - 2890 km.

Vladivostok - 4240 km.

Look at this video carefully, my dear friends... it is exactly what Ms. Palin would see if only she actually could see Russian shores from her own window. ;-)

Blessings and best wishes - S.
Haim Kadman Dec 15, 2008, 2:40pm UTC
A beautiful poem Svetlana, thanks for the lovely landscapes described so well and displayed.
Thomas Millington Dec 15, 2008, 2:42pm UTC
Thank you Svetlana; a nice contribution.
Beryl Singleton Bissell Dec 15, 2008, 2:43pm UTC
Your poem and the attached video and song are magical Svetlana. No wonder that song stuck in your mind. It shall be in mine for at least a day and doubtless will return again and again.
Howard b. Dec 15, 2008, 2:54pm UTC
I enjoyed this so much. Not only a beautiful poem . But a video that was so interesting.
Places and people that I would never have seen if you hadn't sent it. Very peaceful
music to go with it as well. Thank you for sharing these things with us. Have a great day. Peace.
Clarke M. Dec 15, 2008, 3:15pm UTC
Beautiful. "You betcha," as Sarah would say.
Chris Brockman Dec 15, 2008, 3:30pm UTC
This is an absolutely wondrful production, Svetlana! What delightful music, rendered even more so by your felcitous choice of words and images!
John Doyle Dec 15, 2008, 3:45pm UTC
Marvelous my deat, FYI. I belong to a group called the Institute of Shamanic Studied that has and is doing preservation work in that area.

Keep writing my dear you improve with each piece
Svetlana Goryacheva Dec 15, 2008, 5:34pm UTC
.. Thank you all so very much for your most kind, inspiring, uplifting comments, my dearest ones! ;-) My special gratitude to dear John and his group for helping to preserve the natural beauty you all can see on this video. And, of course, kudos to "Ergyron"! ;-)

Hugs and blessings to everyone - S.
Wilhelmine E. Dec 15, 2008, 6:16pm UTC
This is a wonderful look both forward and backward. I enjoyed the music. To me it was fascinating to see daisies growing out of the rocks on the shore. I'd love to hear some of the stories these people pass down over the years.
JOHN BECK Dec 15, 2008, 8:11pm UTC
Beautiful poem and video. Yes, that's really far east!
Cloudberries are enjoyed by my Norwegian inlaws. They call them Molte except the "o" is replaced with a Norwegian character.
The mushrooms look like they could be boletes.
Some of the sled dogs look like they could be Samoyeds. My late dog was a Sam. They of course were used by the Sami for herding reindeer.
Thanks again for this lovely post, Sveta.
JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Dec 15, 2008, 10:09pm UTC
Totally cool. I love the words you chose - sharp, sweet and delectable morsels.
John Harris Beck Dec 15, 2008, 10:22pm UTC
A rare treat, Sveta, thank you.
Sue T. Dec 16, 2008, 2:03am UTC
Wow, Svetlana ~ what an interesting place - a harsh environment to live in yet very beautiful too. And your poem, Svetlana, is just perfect. What beautiful imagery.
Svetlana Goryacheva Dec 16, 2008, 6:18am UTC
Thank you all from the very depth of my heart, my dearest ones! :-)

Among the billions of people who inhabit our Earth there are only about 15.000 Chukchi, but this song taught me from my younger years that even the smallest nations have an unique voice of their own - their own language, traditions and culture which needs to be preserved and cherished for all the generations to come. ;-)

Love you all - S.
Svetlana Goryacheva Dec 16, 2008, 6:20am UTC
... And I hope, Chris, dear, that you have noticed these admirable Polar Bears so close to the man - I wonder how they managed to take this photo at all - it's unique by its own right! ;-)

Hugs and blessings - S.
Marinela Kotsina Dec 16, 2008, 6:46am UTC
The poem and the videa are part of a whole nation and they are so beautiful Svetlana!
You are a wonderful LADY who is spreading her wings round the world, singing the song of birds in such a peaceful way.
joy and light
Svetlana Goryacheva Dec 16, 2008, 6:53am UTC
I'm so humbled and honored by your most generous praise, Marinela, my sweet friend! ;-)

Love and Light to you in great abundance - S.
Kathryn Flynn Dec 16, 2008, 11:20am UTC
Wow, Svetlana.

????????,

? ????????? ??? ?? ??? ??????? ????? ? ????? .Reminds ???? ????, ??? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ? ???????? ??????. ? ?????? ???????? ?. ??? - ??? ??? ? ?????? ? ?????????? ???.
Svetlana Goryacheva Dec 16, 2008, 2:01pm UTC
Chris, dear - yes, I know... being chosen specially for a certain poet who is very fond of Polar Bears and has written the most remarkable poem in defense of these gorgeous animals. ;-)

Dear Kathryn - o-h-h, these Russian letters moved my heart beyond all words imaginable... yes, the landscape is very similar since Northern Alaska is so close to Chukchi shores.

Barb, dearest friend - thank you so very much! ;-) I never visited these places, but the picture was vivid in my mind as I wrote this little piece.

Love and blessings to everyone - S.
Kathryn Flynn Dec 17, 2008, 9:29pm UTC
Svetlana,

This is a Notable in Gather Writing Essentials, Wednesday
Svetlana Goryacheva Dec 18, 2008, 2:25am UTC
Thank you so very much, dear Kathryn! ;-)

Hugs and blessings - S.
Walker Bennett, SF Author Dec 18, 2008, 2:18pm UTC
I can see and smell the Amur, and feel the wonderful sights of Vladivostok and Khabarovsk.
Svetlana Goryacheva Dec 18, 2008, 2:22pm UTC
O-h-h, Walker, dear... this is far, far to the north from there... 4240 km from Vladivostok, Chukotka, the place where America meets Russia! ;-)

Hugs and blessings - S.
Walker Bennett, SF Author Dec 18, 2008, 2:23pm UTC
Anyone who still doubts that the Native Americans, Aboriginal N. Americans, First Peoples, didn't wander across the Bering Strait a couple of thousand years ago, need to watch this carefully and also listen carefully to the musical accompanyment.
Svetlana Goryacheva Dec 18, 2008, 2:29pm UTC
That's God's own true, my dear friend... they're directly related to Alaska's natives, and their traditional culture and beliefs are much the same.

Blessings and best wishes in abundance - S.
Svetlana Goryacheva Dec 19, 2008, 7:55am UTC
Thank you wholeheartedly, my dear ones! ;-)

Blessings and best wishes - S.
Svetlana, this really is lovely...lovely!
elizabeth evans Dec 19, 2008, 5:44pm UTC
Across the Bering Sea in the land of Alaska, I spent 9 years in various Inuit villages for 9 years. This reminded me so much of those years.
William Dotani Dec 20, 2008, 3:35am UTC
Those who truly love their country often express this with and admiration of the countries landscape or geography. You show your love of Siberia vividly.
William Dotani Dec 20, 2008, 3:35am UTC
To Whom It May concern seems a bit formal, so I'll just say to my Gather friends, Happy Holidays. I have had so many chores and things to do that it has been tough to find time to comment. I love to write and I try to set aside at minimum 2 hours a day just to write whatever. My thought is always of you, my audience. You are an inspiration and I try to be entertaining. I read all of your comments. I should respond more. I appreciate good or bad reviews. All I take as a positive. Please oh please give me 10 stars!!! My goodness, I feel like I'm in First grade. I could give a good squat about the stars. Well, it has become just impossible to reciprocate in a timely manner, so I'm just putting this in your comments as a way to say one word. Thanks.
May God bless.
Svetlana Goryacheva Dec 20, 2008, 6:37am UTC
Dear Magi - thank you so very much - God/dess bless! ;-)

Dear Elizabeth - yes, their respective languages and cultures are very closely related. I know that "Ergyron" gave concerts in Alaska and had a great success... as well as in many European countries. They are considered a national treasure on their own right. ;-)

Hugs and best wishes in great abundance - S.
Svetlana Goryacheva Dec 20, 2008, 6:38am UTC
Thank you for your most kind and heartwarming words, William, dear friend... happy upcoming Holidays to you and your family! ;-)

Hugs and blessings - S.
Jai S. Dec 20, 2008, 1:04pm UTC
Beautiful poetic tribute to a beautiful race of people loved - "Ergyron" soul penetrating music and the visuals were a journey by itself ;)

Love and Hugssssssssssssssssssss
Svetlana Goryacheva Dec 20, 2008, 1:20pm UTC
Yes, my dear friend, they're indeed amazing people with interesting and sometimes even tragic fate... people who have been living in harmony with Nature for centuries; whose houses, clothing, diet were developed by many generations to fit ideally into the severe environment, and who often were treated unjustly both by Tsarist and Soviet governments. Now Chukchi are going through what one could call a national renaissance... let's hope for the best! ;-)

Hugs and blessings - S.
Alison H. Dec 20, 2008, 10:45pm UTC
That was very special
Emily C. Dec 20, 2008, 11:21pm UTC
Loved the picures and video. Great poem. Thankyou.
Svetlana Goryacheva Dec 21, 2008, 10:54am UTC
Thank you so very much for your kind comments, dear Alison, Emily... I'm so glad that you liked it! ;-)

Hugs and blessings - S.
Barbary C. Dec 22, 2008, 9:48pm UTC
This is most enchanting, Svetlana.

"Cloudberries crusted with rime," - I really love that image.
Svetlana Goryacheva Dec 23, 2008, 12:43am UTC
Thank you so very, very much, dear Barbary!;-)

Blessings and best wishes - Happy Holidays - S.

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