On Monday, August 22, 2022, Igor Levin, always a poet at heart, has left this world, after his sixtynine- year journey. Born in a harsh northern land near Vorkuta in Russia, he has studied math and physics in St. Petersburg and then settled in a warmer city of Rostov-on-Don, near Azov sea. He worked as an electronics engineer designing and maintaining complex diagnostic machines for Space.
And outside of work, he created. He wrote poetry in many forms, including a beautiful collection of Rubaiyat, styled after Omar Khayyam. He gathered around him poets and bards, writers and artists. He created spaces where poetry and songs were shared and cherished. For many years, he led a bardic song club (KSP) in Rostov-on- Don, bringing bards and poets together from all over the Soviet Union in concerts and festivals. He ran a radio show on history of bardic music and spoken word, sharing the less-known songs with his listeners.
He moved to Canada twenty four years ago and kept writing poetry. He continued organizing concerts in Winnipeg, inviting bards from abroad. Recently, he started writing a book commemorating the experiences of his youth in Soviet Union. He has shared with us the latest chapter a few days before passing.
Igor was intensely kind and deeply sincere. He has opened for many of us the wonderful depths of music and poetry. He left behind his wife, Elena, and their daughter, Jenya. We ask that you take a few moments to reflect on ways he has touched your life.
We share with you a short poem, written by Igor (translated by us from Russian):
My loved ones, I thank you for
these early intoxicated hours of mine
not being clouded by a single whisper.
Meanwhile, I have exhausted
the store of motifs that are close to my soul.
Only the utmost aching ones remain -
the breath of the sea, the smell of chrysanthemums.
~ Igor Levin. March 1, 1953 – August 22, 2022.
Вам благодарен я за то, мои родные,
Что эти ранние часы мои хмельные
Не омрачаются ни вздохом, между тем
Я исчерпал запас запавших в душу тем.
Там остаются только самые больные:
Дыханье моря, запах хризантем.
~ Игорь Левин. 1 марта 1953 - 22 августа 2022.