A Sunflower by Anna Hrybenyk

We are pleased to have a number of Ukrainian refugees as part of our team and are delighted to share this poem written by the daughter of one of our colleagues.

Anna clearly has both a deep understanding of the complexity of war, and an admirable refusal to be defeated by corruption and malice. This poem services as a reminder that, in times of conflict and unrest, it is of upmost importance that communities stick together and help one another.

A sunflower feels free in this Area

Because the field is like a sky

The field is a space for them

They want to show us, how to be free

A sunflower comes from the Sun

Their petals like sunshine

Warm and honest

A Sunflower cannot understand what happening in the world

They can feel dirty air and dry ground

People making this world dirtier and darker

But no one can understand this

Sometimes some people are trying to make this world better

But it is not enough for all the world

Everyone wants to live a very long time

And they are asking “ why is our world so dirty and dry”

But I want to say to everybody. “ we can try to be a team”

And we would be better !

Anna Hrybenyk, aged 11