I am not with those who abandoned their land To the lacerations of the enemy. I am deaf to
But to me the exile is forever pitiful,
But to me the exile is forever pitiful,
But to me the exile is forever pitiful,
Like a prisoner, like someone ill.
Like a prisoner, like someone ill.
Like a prisoner, like someone ill.
Like wormwood smells the bread of strangers.
Like wormwood smells the bread of strangers.
Like wormwood smells the bread of strangers.
But here, in the blinding smoke of the conflagration Destroying what’s left of youth, We h
But here, in the blinding smoke of the conflagration Destroying what’s left of youth, We h
But here, in the blinding smoke of the conflagration Destroying what’s left of youth, We h
And we know that in the final accounting, Each hour will be justified… But there is no peo
And we know that in the final accounting, Each hour will be justified… But there is no peo
And we know that in the final accounting, Each hour will be justified… But there is no peo
Like all of Russia’s greatest poets, Akhmatova felt the moral obligation to be her count
Like all of Russia’s greatest poets, Akhmatova felt the moral obligation to be her count
Like all of Russia’s greatest poets, Akhmatova felt the moral obligation to be her count
Give me bitter years of sickness,
Give me bitter years of sickness,
Give me bitter years of sickness,
And my mysterious gift of song -
And my mysterious gift of song -
And my mysterious gift of song -
So that the stormcloud over darkened Russia
So that the stormcloud over darkened Russia
So that the stormcloud over darkened Russia
Might become a cloud of glorious rays.14
Might become a cloud of glorious rays.14
Might become a cloud of glorious rays.14
The fountain House had a special place in Akhmatova’s universe. She saw it as a blessed
The fountain House had a special place in Akhmatova’s universe. She saw it as a blessed
The fountain House had a special place in Akhmatova’s universe. She saw it as a blessed
tain House was another world enclosed by water. Its inner sanctum
tain House was another world enclosed by water. Its inner sanctum
tain House was another world enclosed by water. Its inner sanctum
represented the European civilization, the vanished universal culture for which Akhma
represented the European civilization, the vanished universal culture for which Akhma
represented the European civilization, the vanished universal culture for which Akhma
What are you muttering, midnight?
What are you muttering, midnight?
What are you muttering, midnight?
The young mistress of the palace.17
The young mistress of the palace.17
The young mistress of the palace.17
The cultural history of the palace was a true inspiration to Akhmatova. She sensed the
The cultural history of the palace was a true inspiration to Akhmatova. She sensed the
The cultural history of the palace was a true inspiration to Akhmatova. She sensed the
* During his famous meeting with the poet at the Fountain House in 1945, the philosopher
* During his famous meeting with the poet at the Fountain House in 1945, the philosopher
* During his famous meeting with the poet at the Fountain House in 1945, the philosopher
27. Akhmatova and Punin in the courtyard of the Fountain House, 1927
27. Akhmatova and Punin in the courtyard of the Fountain House, 1927
27. Akhmatova and Punin in the courtyard of the Fountain House, 1927
Akhmatova and Punin in the courtyard of the Fountain House, 1927
fellow poet, she could draw attention to the way he had defied the authorities by writin
fellow poet, she could draw attention to the way he had defied the authorities by writin
fellow poet, she could draw attention to the way he had defied the authorities by writin
Akhmatova and Shileiko were divorced in 1926. He had been a jealous husband, jealous not
Akhmatova and Shileiko were divorced in 1926. He had been a jealous husband, jealous not
Akhmatova and Shileiko were divorced in 1926. He had been a jealous husband, jealous not
new lover, Nikolai Punin, and his wife (from whom he was separated) in their apartment in
new lover, Nikolai Punin, and his wife (from whom he was separated) in their apartment in
new lover, Nikolai Punin, and his wife (from whom he was separated) in their apartment in
Despite his commitment to the Futurist group of left-wing artists, Punin’s apartment in the
Despite his commitment to the Futurist group of left-wing artists, Punin’s apartment in the
Despite his commitment to the Futurist group of left-wing artists, Punin’s apartment in the
I climbed the tricky back staircase that belonged to another century, each step as deep as
I climbed the tricky back staircase that belonged to another century, each step as deep as
I climbed the tricky back staircase that belonged to another century, each step as
