More about Daniil

The Red Wheelbarrow

by William Carlos Williams

So much depends
upon

a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens

 

Outrageously brief and simple, “The Red Wheelbarrow” was Daniil’s favourite poem. That is why it served as the background for the poster advertising the first Daniil Pashkoff Prize in 2001. But what of the man himself after whom the prize is named?

Ed de Garay, visiting professor from Boston and founder of the creative writing group ”The Workshop on Fridays”, said about Daniil: “He grows on you like ivy”. And like ivy, his writing grew, on toilet doors, during seminars on linguistics and political science and while he should have been doing homework, but it was a secret known only to his closest friends. Despite the loss of his mother soon after coming to Braunschweig and suffering from advanced diabetes, which severely hampered his eyesight, he viewed life from the humorous side up to the very end, determined to challenge the odds. He is still fondly remembered for his wonderful sense of humour, his vivacious spirit, and a love of words, tap dancing, and music. He was a popular student and a much sought after companion.