“The reason most relationships fail isn’t because we haven’t found the right person. It’s because we haven’t found ourselves and we’re hoping someone can fill that void for us. They can’t. No one can. Self-love is and always will be a prerequisite to every happy romance.”

Russian poet and translator, born in 1973. She is best known for her lyrical, introspective verse that explores themes of memory, identity, and the quiet beauty of everyday life. Her translations of classical and contemporary poetry bridge Eastern and Western literary traditions.