Researchers invite the public to share memories of a risqué poem circulated during the Soviet era

As part of a study on self-publishing, pseudonyms, and literary deception, researchers at the Latvian Academy of Culture (LAC) invite the public to share their memories of a poem circulated orally and in manuscript form during the Soviet period, known by various titles, most notably Mīlas spēks (The Power of Love), Poēma par Pedro(Poem about Pedro), and Dons Pedro (Don Pedro).

The sexually explicit and provocative poem, which has never been published in its entirety, was written in the 1940s and circulated intermittently in informal settings over the following decades, both orally and in manuscript form. In 2005, the satirical poet Valdis Artavs claimed authorship of the poem, publishing a short excerpt from a censored version in the 20 June 2005 issue of the newspaper Saskarsme.

The research project conducted at LAC collects information about self-published works and literary texts published anonymously or under pseudonyms. Researchers are seeking people who, during the Soviet period or later, read, heard, or otherwise encountered Valdis Artavs's poem or its various versions.

Anyone with relevant memories is invited to complete a short online questionnaire: https://ej.uz/neratna-poema

Information about when and where the poem was read or heard, as well as any memories associated with it, would be valuable to the research. Of particular interest are accounts of different attributions of authorship, the social circles in which the poem circulated, and the situations in which it was shared, such as student gatherings or bohemian circles of poets and artists. Researchers are also interested in the formats in which the poem circulated and other historical details that could contribute to a better understanding of Latvian literature that challenged Soviet authorities and its informal circulation.

All information collected through the questionnaire will remain anonymous and will be published only in aggregated form.

The research is conducted as part of the project "Cases of Literary Deception in Latvian Literature and Translations", funded by the Latvian Academy of Culture. The project is led by Ph.D. Ivars Šteinbergs (for enquiries, please contact steinbergs.ivars@gmail.com).

The survey and public engagement activities are carried out within the framework of the project "The University of Latvia and Its Institutes in the European Research Area – Excellence in Research and Cooperation" (No. 1.1.1.5/3/25/I/011).