Photo report from the Natallia Arsiennieva Award ceremony. Photo by: Aliaksandr Dragavoz.
The Natallia Arsiennieva Award is the most prestigious poetry prize in the Belarusian language. It serves not only as an incentive for poets to pursue new creative discoveries, but also as a way to amplify their voices—especially in a time when many are forced to write from exile.
An unusually warm autumn evening under the blue sky of Warsaw brought together several dozen lovers of the written word in the courtyard of the Youth Hub. This year’s highlight was the poetic picnic format—a fresh twist on the award ceremony. The Arsiennieva Prize also embraced a new visual identity, with blue and white as the main colors. Why? The designer’s answer was artistic, in other words—poetic: under the blue sky, everything feels different. And indeed, the new palette helped set a lyrical tone for the entire event.
Our history moves in circles…
Why did the event take place on September 20?
One of the two noble goals of the evening was to pay tribute to Natallia Arsiennieva, the renowned Belarusian poet. Among her rich creative legacy stands the iconic poem Prayer (Mahutny Boža / Almighty God), written in forced exile. And it was on the 20th of September that this author of several brilliant works—including musical pieces—was born. This year marked her 121st birthday.
Yes, times are different now, but things haven’t become easier. Still, just as in the 20th century, the Belarusian poetic world continues to pulse with life, producing books in defiance of dramatic circumstances. The Natallia Arsiennieva Award aims to showcase new outstanding works, inspire readers with the richness and uniqueness of the Belarusian language, and highlight literary achievements that are worth aspiring to. This is the second key goal of the organizers.
We spoke with jury member Andrei Khadanovich:
“It’s very symbolic that nearly all of this year’s shortlisted poets are scattered across the world. They carry Belarus with them wherever they go. When you consider the fate of Natallia Arsiennieva, it feels like our history is spinning in a circle…”
And what does that say to us?
“At first glance, the fate of this famous poet seems tragic: her return to her homeland happened slowly and symbolically—through texts that mostly reached us only after her death. But on the other hand, Natallia Arsiennieva outlived her persecutors—the enemies of Belarus and the Belarusian language. Tyranny passes, but poetry remains. That’s why we must always remember: cultural, literary—any creative Belarusian activity nurtures our belief in returning home. Of course, we dream that the walls will fall sooner and that Arsiennieva’s Mahutny Boža will one day resound again in the square in Minsk…”
And did the jury see poems of that same highest caliber among this year’s submissions?
“I was deeply moved by the work of an entire constellation of poets—any of them could have been the winner. We presented readers with six exceptional books. Despite everything being done to silence our culture, despite the pressure it faces, creators continue to work and bring forth meaningful and powerful art.”
Parallels in the Belarusian literary geography
The Natallia Arsiennieva Award was established in 2016 by PEN Belarus, the Union of Belarusian Writers, and the Association of Belarusians of the World “Baćkaŭščyna.” Since 2021, the prestigious event has been organized by PEN Belarus and the International Union of Belarusian Writers. This year’s partners included the Estate of Vitaut Kipel and the Belarusian Charitable Trust. The awards ceremony was supported by the Belarusian Youth Hub.
Who chose the laureates?
The challenging task of selecting the winners was undertaken by poet and translator Darja Bialkievič, poet and literary scholar Andrej Chadanovič (winner of the prize in 2019), along with journalist and writer Miroslava Lukša and Slavic studies scholar Alexander Raspapou, Doctor of Humanities.
It’s worth recalling that past laureates have included Aleś Razanaŭ, Uładzimir Niaklajeŭ, Aliesia Bašarymava, and Maryja Martysevič.
This year, the Natallia Arsiennieva Award featured books from around ten publishers based in Belarus, Poland, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Leading in the number of nominated books were hochroth Minsk (founded by Dzmitry Strotcau) and Skaryna Press.
Many of the nominated authors are currently living in exile…
This new Belarusian literary geography draws poignant parallels with the forced journeys of Natallia Arsiennieva herself. She left Belarus with pain and not by choice, traveling widely through exile. Despite the hardships of emigration, she endured—and created—thanks in part to poetry. Her exalted poetic prayer Mahutny Boža (Almighty God) was written in exile. A model for today’s literary exiles?
Indeed, contemporary authors continue to write and create despite repression, persecution, and war.
The full longlist for the 2023 award included 17 books. The shortlist featured:
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“Uciekі z Palesia” (Escapes from Paliesse) by Valjancina Aksak (Kamunikat.org),
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“Miod i dym” (Honey and Smoke) by Maryja Badziej (Pflaumbaum),
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“Cieła mihdału” (The Body of the Almond) by Hanna Šakiel (publishing initiative “Vilma”).
The war year of 2022 significantly slowed literary production, with only six books submitted. The final shortlist included:
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“Vershy” (Poems) by Alhierd Bacharevič (Viasna),
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“Pobač” (Next To) by Nasta Kudasava (Skarynyčy),
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“Piesni miortvykh i uvaśkresłykh” (Songs of the Dead and the Resurrected) by Valzhyna Mort (Pflaumbaum).
Note: Of the six shortlisted nominees, only one was a man — Alhierd Bacharevič, whom most readers know as a celebrated prose writer. This was a wonderful opportunity to discover him also as a remarkable poet!
The level of competition was reflected in the names of the literary masters whose books were considered by the jury this year: Maryja Martysevič, Hanna Komar, Hanna Jankuta, Artur Kamaroŭski, Aleś Plotka, Dzmitry Rubin, Andrej Skurko, Andrej Stiepańuk, Viktar Siamaška…
When poetry intertwines with fate — and fate with hope…
Tichan Čarniakievič, press secretary of the International Union of Belarusian Writers:
“Today’s readings clearly show that we have a strong and vibrant poetic scene. I’ve served on many juries, but looking at the 2022 shortlist, for example — it was pure literary magic! You can only dream of such a trio… And it was incredibly difficult to choose just one winner. It’s one of those times when you leave the prize ceremony with very mixed feelings…”
Natallia Arsiennieva — the leading voice of Belarusian emigration in her time — waited 52 years for the publication of her second book, Between the Shores. We hope such a fate won’t befall the talented women poets who shared their verses today. Fortunately, publishers are active, and new books continue to appear — in short, poetry is alive and well. And that means the prize will live on, too.
2022 laureate Nasta Kudasava supported Tichan Čarniakievič’s words:
“Indeed, the selection of authors was so strong that just making the shortlist already felt like a victory. For me, this award is, above all, a form of support. Writing is becoming increasingly difficult — everything happening around us makes it feel as though we’re losing our voice…”
I asked Nasta:
– What is your poetic prayer today?
“To be honest, I’m not even sure if I still have the words for one… Sometimes it feels like the sparks, the rays of light, are gone. As if something inside is slowly burning out. But when you see how many engaged, sincere Belarusians are around — how they reacted to the shortlisted poems today, how they listened to Belarusian vinyl and the live songs of our young star Justyna Karpilovič — then hope grows stronger. And it’s wonderful that we can contribute to this light through our books.”
The time has come to announce the 2023 laureate.
Poet and head of PEN Belarus, Taciana Niadbaj, took the floor:
“First, I want to thank the entire team responsible for organizing the award, as well as the Belarusian Youth Hub, which helped us host this wonderful ceremony, and our long-standing partner — the International Union of Belarusian Writers.
But before I reveal the winner… let’s keep the suspense just a little longer!”
I have a surprise.
Those who follow the work of our team may have noticed that the name of the 2021 Arsennieva Prize winner has never been publicly announced. For safety reasons, it had to remain a secret. That person never received the public recognition or the chance to attend a proper ceremony… But now, I can finally say the name: Darya Bialkevich, for her book Tears to the Wind!
Two years later, the poet finally received long and heartfelt applause for her collection — and, of course, flowers!
“At the time, I was still in Belarus, and going public could have put me at risk… Of course, I was overjoyed, but I was afraid to share that joy.
But now my whole family is abroad… and I can proudly say out loud: yes, I’m the Arsennieva Prize laureate. I’m very proud of that — and I can now add it to my poetic résumé.”
After the symbolic announcement of the 2021 laureate, Tatsiana Niadbaj revealed the name of the 2023 Natalia Arsennieva Prize winner: Hanna Shakel for her debut poetry collection The Body of the Almond (Цела мігдалу).
“I’m especially happy that, in the shortlist, alongside my own debut book, there was another debut collection — by my close friend. We helped each other edit our first books…”
Someone in the audience joked:
“So you’ll be splitting the prize?”
Laughter followed, and then came her warm reply, met with applause:
“Well, that’s something we’ll have to think about! But it’s true — this win is a shared achievement. I hope that Natalia Arsennieva continues to bless young voices in poetry.”
A bridge between time and space, memory and hope, us and our homeland
The Natalia Arsennieva Prize once again reminded everyone that poetry lives on even in the hardest of times — it helps endure and overcome. If the blue and white colors of the new visual identity symbolize the open sky that connects all of us, then the poems themselves became a bridge: between past and present, time and space, memory and hope, language and poetry, us and our homeland.
…Perhaps the most iconic book by Natalia Arsennieva is Between the Shores, published 45 years ago — a title filled with the subtext of exile: where do you find yourself when you push away from what is yours, from your native land? Do you have the strength to reach the opposite shore, one that now feels foreign? Will you stay afloat? Or will you be swept into the currents of uncertainty and oblivion?
Today’s poets, too, are full of questions… To make sure those questions don’t echo as cries of despair or ellipses of confusion, the answers must be found in one’s own work — in the poetic movement forward, in the lifelong urge to share the rhythms of one’s heart. Perhaps that’s the secret of Arsennieva’s timeless poetry.
Here are lines from Natalia Arsennieva’s very first poetry collection:
In the blue sky, there is no grief,
the kind that slowly smothers all,
under the blue sky, everything feels different —
life seems bright as dreams,
so unknown, wondrous, soaring,
a life of inspiration…
Everyone present at the celebration drew from this elevated poetry a sense of that very inspiration — and the confidence that “in the blue skies of the immortal, endless light will flow” and reach even this difficult moment, that even our own window will be lit by the sun again.
Natalia wrote this poem when she was just 17 — in spring.
Фота з цырымоніі: Аляксандр Драгавоз.
The Natalia Arsennieva Prize is organized by PEN Belarus and the International Union of Belarusian Writers, both committed to supporting and developing the Belarusian literary tradition. This year’s partners included the Estate of Vitaut Kipel Foundation and the Belarusian Charitable Trust. The Belarusian Youth Hub supported and hosted the award ceremony as an official partner.