Belševica, Vizma - Henry of Latvia's Notes in the Margins of the Livonian Chronicle

Vizma Belševica (1931–2005) — Latvian poet and writer. Her work “Henry of Latvia’s Notes in the Margins of the Livonian Chronicle” (1969) is a powerful allegorical text that uses medieval history to reflect on oppression, identity, and the moral dilemmas of life under the Soviet regime in Latvia.

Vasil Siomucha: "Vizma is my favorite poet. The poem mentioned was published in Latvia, after which Vizma was not published at all for eight years—not a single line. The authorities understood everything perfectly well. I translated the poem because both in Latvia and in Belarus there were analogous processes: in Latvia in the 12th century—forced Christianization and Germanization of the pagans by fire and sword, carried out by the Livonian leader Henry, raised by Germans; in Belarus—earlier and ongoing forced Russification of Belarusians carried out by—well, you know by whose hands this was and is being done. And in both cases, the state leaders showed a pathological hatred toward their own people.

Latvians understood Vizma immediately. Belarusians—to this day—have not understood either the translation or the analogy embedded in it. Many times I have read the poem at meetings with readers, many times explained it—and all in vain, like peas thrown against a wall."