FLOWER MOTIVES IN MICHAL JEZIERSKIS POEM UKRAINE

The floral motives in Jezierski' poem 'Ukraine', connected with couleur locale of the Ukrainian land, were presented. The poet's literary imagination was animated by trees, flowers, and herbs that became a subject of aesthetic admire, description and a carrier of symbolic meanings. The plan of the work presents tree images which are both a part of the Ukrainian rural landscape (pear tree) and of forest space. Moreover, flowers are set in the forest spatium becoming the sign of peace and idyllic atmosphere. Michal Jezierski creates a peculiar Ukrainian herbarium consisting of different plants set in steppe landscape. Into this steppe wonderland the poet puts inter alia rue, mullein, and camomiles. Herba somni is the main subject of Jezierski's work, because it has an abitity to make sad, petrified people fall asleep and be peaceful, so it has also the therapeutic function. In the poem we can also find the flower of fern: a motive well known all around Europe. Herba felicitatis has magic properties, can indulge human material needs, and is also a symbol of happiness. What is more, Jezierski noticed how much beauty there is, hidden in the Ukrainian land with its lush flora which is presented as an observer of everything happening in nature.