Lina Kostenko (born 19 March 1930) is a Ukrainian poet, writer, and member of the Ukrainian dissident movement. Kostenko has been credited with reviving Ukrainian-language lyric poetry. Kostenko has been granted the Shevchenko National Prize and the Legion of Honour.

Wings

In truth, the winged need no land:
Without the ground, there’ll be the sky,

Without fog, there’ll be clouds,
Without land, there will be freedom.

In this, perhaps, is their avian truth.
And what about humans?

They live on land and do not fly.
Still, they have wings! They truly do.

Those wings, instead of quills and fluff,
Are made of virtue, truth, and trust.

Some have wings of faithful love,
Some – of endless aspiration,

Some – of empathy and action,
Some – of zeal and pride in work,

Some – of poetry and song,
Of art, hope, dreams, and passion…

They do not fly – or so it seems.
But they have wings! They do have wings!

Translated by Simon Patlis