Hanna
Semenenko, age 78
Resident of Chernobyl zone village, Ilyintsi.
Evacuated to Yahotin, 160k away, but went back.
Oh God
how they tricked us!
They said – they were
taking us away for
three days
and they took us
to the end of the earth.
To the authorities
we handed over our lives
cows, calves, pigs.
We left everything
behind, we took nothing
with us
but our souls.
I spent the winter
in Yahotin
came back here
in the spring.
There was nothing in Yahotin
but steepe
Here we have rivers and forests.
So many of our
young died there.
I wouldn’t go back.
I would rather die.
My brother
lived here.
In the first years
after the accident
his daughter married
had a child, a boy
as healthy
as an oak – they lived here
what kind of radiation
do you call that?
Officials, they come, they check
us - check our food
our clothes.
There is nowhere
As clean as here!
They deceived us
drove people
to the ends of the earth
out of sight.
Where is the radiation?
In Yahotin
the levels were higher.
They took us.
36 people in the village
we have electricity, thank God
I get water nearby,
we grow potatoes
cabbages and tomatoes
and mobile shops
visit us twice
a week -
people who live here
are old like me or older
there a couple who are
90 or more.
Tomorrow
they may no longer
Be here.
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