Shevchenko's Last Poem

[Ciel†]

Shevchenko's Last Poem is as it's title suggests - Shevchenko's last poem before his death.  Shevchenko, spelt Шевче́нко, was one of Ukraine's most famous poets (guy literally has his face on one of their banknotes).  Shevchenko was probably akin to Mark Twain in his time by just how his legacy has lasted in society.  His last poem is not his best work but it practically breathed of finality, as though Shevchenko knew it would be his last. Hence the title.

Do you want to know where the absolute worst place to read Ukrainian poetry  is (or anything else for that matter)?  A bowling alley stuffed to the brim with video games, on a Saturday afternoon.

Okay, yes, out of context that might sound really sad.  Why would anyone under the age of thirty take some reading material to The Castle of all places?  There's like video games and bowling and go karts, gosh, who would be so boring and lame?

Ami Flynn was pretty boring.  At least that's how she would describe herself, but she had an excuse, kind of.  Her cousin Dylan was with his friends and... well, she hated bowling?  

Ami sat at an empty table not too far off from her cousin and his friends. A stack of books laid at her one side collecting dust, some fantasy, others poetry.  Her cellphone sat neglected at the other side.  Her mother's collection of Shevchenko was getting her full attention, though from the screaming and the buzzing all around, that wasn't saying much.

From the cracked edges of her one book, Ami could see a rotund man in a navy blue polo shirt hovering nearby.  Christ, that had to be the third guard she's seen!  What the hell did Dylan do to get security so unnerved?

Ami had picked the spot because it was close enough to keep an eye on Dylan but far enough to cover should anyone from school see her.... Of course, it just happened to be near the stairs.  And the air hockey tables, all of which apparently buzzed loudly when not in use.

Ami stopped reading.  She propped the book on her cellphone before proceeding to press her hand into her face.  All of this activity was giving her a migraine.