Prakapovich Mykola (Mikalai Mikalaevich; born 1.11.1948, Pugachyova village, Brest region, now within Brest), a poet. The
member of Belarusian Writers' Union since 1981.
Background
He was born in a worker’s family. Proximity to the city (Pugachyova village is separated from Brest only by the river Mukhavets) left traces on the mode of life of country people. The father Mikalai Ilyich had several professions: an excavator operator, a tractor driver, a locksmith, a painter. Almost all his life is connected with the work in the river port of Brest. The mother Olga Paulauna worked as a cleaner and a cloakroom attendant. In 1955 Prakapovich went to the first class of the eight-year school in Pugachyova. In 1966 he graduated from high school number 4 in Brest. In junior school he was fond of history, later – of mathematics and physics, took part in local and regional competitions where he won prize places. He loved reading since childhood. He wrote compositions willingly.
Career
He began writing poetry while being a pioneer. His neighbor Dmitry Vasilyev, composer amateur and
a poet who published a lot in a regional newspaper “Zarya” encouraged him in
writing. He introduced the poet to the contributors of the newspaper and to a
poet Rudkousky. This fact to some degree influenced on the choice of the
profession. In 1966 Prakapovich entered the Philological Faculty of Brest
Pedagogical Institute. While being a student he took part in the work of
regional literary group. He worked as a teacher in Asabovitskaya School, Pinsk
region after the graduation of the Institute in 1970-71. In 1971-72 he served
in the Soviet Army. From 1972 he worked at the Brest regional radio, from 1975
worked as a senior editor, later as the head of the editorial staff of literary
and musical programs on Brest television studio. From 1984 he is a secretary of
the regional department of the Belarusian Writers' Union. He’s the friend of
the council of Belarusian Writers' Union (from 1990).
His first poem “Ranak” was published in regional newspaper “Zarya” in 1966. In a short time
some publications appeared in “Tscyrvonaya Zmena” and in other republican
periodicals. The basis for his first book “Belaya Vezha” (included in
collection “Naschadky”, 1979) were poems written at the period of working at
school in Asobavichy village. He’s the author of poetic collections “Nead’emnaie”,
“Na Krugi Svae”. Prakapovich is a lyric poet who is in love with the beauty of
his native region Polesye. His poetry and the poem “Nead’emnaie” are imbued
with a concern of saving his native wildlife. The leading motifs of poet’s
works are friendship, love, honesty, kindness, the history of the Belarusian
people. The reflection of the poet is expressed in lyrical poems and in journalistic
forms. According to his poem Hanok wrote the song “Polka-Vesyalukha”. are imbued
with a concern of saving his native wildlife. The leading motifs of poet