Independence Day Performance

Last week, Finland celebrated Independence Day. I was invited to perform at the Citizens’ Celebration (Kansalaisjuhla), where I read two of my poems in front of a live audience.

The invitation was based on my writing connected to lived experience in Ukraine as deminer / instructor and real-world events. Performing these texts publicly was a reminder of how poetry can function not only as art, but also as a way to process collective memory, conflict, and resilience.

Spoken-word performances are an important part of my work as a writer. They influence how I approach rhythm, voice, and clarity on the page — especially in longer texts and narrative writing.