REFINED SENSUALITY IN TIMES OF LOUD DRUMS: ON THE MAIN MOTIFS IN VOLODYMYR KOBYLIANSKYIʼS POETRY

The article summarizes the key motifs previously identified by researchers in the poetry of V. Kobylianskyi, reevaluating them from a сurrent perspective, particularly removing the ideological bias that was mandatory for critics during the Soviet period. This study examines the creative development of V. Kobylianskyi through the lens of his biography, focusing on the «Bukovynskyi» and «Kyivskyi» periods of his literary career. The «Chernivtsi» intellectual and cultural environment that shaped his artistic growth is characterized, with particular attention to the young poet’s aesthetic orientations and the factors that led to his emigration. The paper also explores Kobylianskyi’s life in Kyiv, highlighting his engagement with Symbolist circles such as «Bila Studiia», «Muzahet», and the eclectic «Mystetskyi Lokh». Additionally, the study traces his key publications, both poetic and literary-critical, offering insight into his contributions to Ukrainian modernist discourse. Unique stylistic techniques, motifs, and concepts, previously unnoticed, are identified. The paper emphasizes the experimental nature of Kobylianskyiʼs primarily Symbolist poetic pursuits, his work with language, and his exploration of various poetic modes. Free, original, specific urban motifs with associations and allusion are noted. The poems such as «Bukovynski motyvy», «Liubliu ya rev i ryk…», «Syplye, syplye sad samotnii», «Verkhovynskyi bir», «Ya sokil z hir», and «Tak smutno-prekrasni…» are analysed. Alongside the previously studied concept of Kobylianskyiʼs lyrics – «krasy perekhodu yak naivyshchoi krasy» – another vital and dominant concept in his poetry, «kordotsentryzm», is highlighted. This is evident in several poetic texts, including «Try roky yak kynuv ya...», «U tebe, kokhanyi mii kraiu», «Khto tak khutko...», «Ye v sertsi poeta...», «Shmatochok neba», «O pisne, nezahoienyi boliu!..», etc. Additionally, the significant motif of a «khram chy zamok nad vodoiu», which, while symbolic, refers to entirely real precedents, is noted. Keywords: Volodymyr Kobylianskyi, poetics, poetry motifs, modernism, symbolism, cordocentrism.