"Poetry is an art form that gives voice to the silent and reveals the untold."
Let me introduce myself
I’m Daria Lysenko, a Ukrainian poet writing in both Ukrainian and Croatian. I was born in Kyiv and studied in both Kyiv and Zagreb, earning my master’s degree in German Studies and Art History in 2017. After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, I moved to the Netherlands, where I now live and work in The Hague.
My first poetry collection, I Have No Explanation for This, was published in Croatia in 2017. Since then, my poems have appeared in various anthologies and literary journals across Ukraine, Croatia, and the Netherlands. In 2025, I became a member of the Croatian Writers’ Association.
New poetry book
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New poetry book *
The bilingual Ukrainian-Dutch collection "I Heard You Are in The Netherlands..." features poems reflecting Daria Lysenko’s experience as a Ukrainian forced to leave her homeland. But you won’t find tears or complaints about a cruel fate here. On the contrary, the author shares her view of the Netherlands with gentle irony, explores how Ukrainians are perceived by the Dutch, and playfully intertwines these two perspectives. This makes Daria’s poems especially engaging for both Dutch and Ukrainian readers.
Although the collection addresses one of humanity’s most painful issues—war and forced migration—it surprisingly evokes warm and tender emotions in the reader.
*Translated from Ukrainian into Dutch by Arie Van Der Ent
Fish and parrots
My friend, a poet from Croatia
tells me to leave Croatia in the past,
to focus on the Dutch people instead
and write poems about them in Ukrainian,
to find a job as a bartender or a janitor -
"It's good for a creative biography," - he says.
especially if you are a poet.
My Croatian friend drinks beer and talks a lot about politics.
He went through the war 30 years ago and knows what it's like.
My friend, a poet from Ukraine
doesn’t often speak about the past,
we don't focus on the Dutch people
as for some reason we don’t focus on the poetry too.
My Ukrainian friend sends me videos
with a fish that walks on the sand
or with a funny parrot.
We talk a lot about fish and parrots.
He rarely drinks beer now and almost does not mention politics.
He is going through the war now and knows what it’s like.
15.01.24
"The restrained humour hidden in Daria’s sharp lines is truly striking. The imagery of the Ukrainian woman's new Dutch home is touching and creates a feeling in the reader as if they are right there beside her.”
Lisa Weeda
Daria’s books
Explore the poetry of Daria Lysenko—sharp, playful, and rich with irony. Her work weaves together cultures and languages, creating a distinct and borderless poetic voice.
Contact me
Have a question, comment, or just want to connect? Feel free to reach out! I’d love to hear from you.