Vladimir Asatiani, affectionately known as Lado, was a renowned Georgian poet born on January 14, 1917, in Kutaisi. Despite a short poetic career spanning just seven years, he cemented his place as one of the most cherished poets of 20th-century Georgia.
Raised in a family of educators, Lado completed his early education in his hometown of Bardnala before pursuing studies at the Tsageri Agricultural Technique and later enrolling in the Kutaisi Pedagogical Institute. His poetic journey began with the publication of his first poem, “თებერვლის დილა” (Morning of Spring), in the Kutaisi newspaper Stalineli in 1936.
In 1938, Lado relocated to Tbilisi, where he found employment at the newspaper “ნორჩი ლენინელი” (Norchi Lenineli), situated opposite the opera house. It was in Tbilisi that he met Aniko Vachnadze, his future wife, who worked as an economist in the writer’s union.
When adulthood brought the onset of tuberculosis, an incurable condition at the time, Lado often sought respite in the fresh air of the mountain village of Abastumani. Despite temporary relief, his inability to climb Tbilisi’s hilly streets led his wife to secure lodgings at the “Orient” hotel in Tbilisi. Their flat had a view of Lado Gudiashvili’s residence. Lado expressed a desire for his book to be decorated with Gudiashvili’s artwork, a wish his wife passed on to Gudiashvili’s wife. But it was a wish that was only able to be fulfilled posthumously, seeing Gudiashvili painting Asatiani’s portrait on the poet’s book following his passing.
In Georgia, by Lado Asatiani
In Georgia were born
And then always
Troubled about that;
Eh… I wish our
Childhood and beauty
Even for an instant,
Came back.
The Georgian will not
Kill himself, no,
He may be killed
In the fight with
One hope: let our
life be lengthened
And repeated
Once more.
Bravery comes to us
From our ancestors,
Let everybody learn
And know about that!
We may die in
The fight, but
Even then, we
Don’t part with
Life.
As life, thus is living,
Close all doors
Of death and
Long live that
Happy day, when
We were born
On this earth!
Translated from Georgian by Ketevan Tukhareli
