Natasha's Dance

an avalanche I cry,

As if under the vault of a fetid cellar

As if under the vault of a fetid cellar

As if under the vault of a fetid cellar

I were burning in quicklime.

I were burning in quicklime.

I were burning in quicklime.

I will pretend to be soundless this winter

I will pretend to be soundless this winter

I will pretend to be soundless this winter

And I will slam the eternal doors forever,

And I will slam the eternal doors forever,

And I will slam the eternal doors forever,

And even so, they will recognize my voice,

And even so, they will recognize my voice,

And even so, they will recognize my voice,

And even so they will believe in it once more.210

And even so they will believe in it once more.210

And even so they will believe in it once more.210

210

Anna Akhmatova was one of the great survivors. Her poetic voice was irrepressible. In th

Anna Akhmatova was one of the great survivors. Her poetic voice was irrepressible. In th

Anna Akhmatova was one of the great survivors. Her poetic voice was irrepressible. In th

In 1963 she wrote the last additions to her masterpiece, Poem without a Hero, which she h

In 1963 she wrote the last additions to her masterpiece, Poem without a Hero, which she h

In 1963 she wrote the last additions to her masterpiece, Poem without a Hero, which she h

Poem without a Hero,

211

… and because I don’t have enough paper, I am writing on your first draft.212*

… and because I don’t have enough paper, I am writing on your first draft.212*

… and because I don’t have enough paper, I am writing on your first draft.212*

212

* Akhmatova informed several friends that the first dedication was to Mandelstam. When

* Akhmatova informed several friends that the first dedication was to Mandelstam. When

* Akhmatova informed several friends that the first dedication was to Mandelstam. When

Hope Abandoned,

The poem is full of literary references, over which countless scholars have puzzled, but

The poem is full of literary references, over which countless scholars have puzzled, but

The poem is full of literary references, over which countless scholars have puzzled, but

We shall meet again in Petersburg

We shall meet again in Petersburg

We shall meet again in Petersburg

as though we had interred the sun in it

as though we had interred the sun in it

as though we had interred the sun in it

and shall pronounce for the first time

and shall pronounce for the first time

and shall pronounce for the first time

that blessed, senseless word.

that blessed, senseless word.

that blessed, senseless word.

In the black velvet of the Soviet night,

In the black velvet of the Soviet night,

In the black velvet of the Soviet night,

in the velvet of the universal void

in the velvet of the universal void

in the velvet of the universal void

the familiar eyes of blessed women sing

the familiar eyes of blessed women sing

the familiar eyes of blessed women sing

and still the deathless flowers bloom.213

and still the deathless flowers bloom.213

and still the deathless flowers bloom.213

213

Akhmatova’s Poem is a requiem for those who died in Leningrad. That remembrance is a sac

Akhmatova’s Poem is a requiem for those who died in Leningrad. That remembrance is a sac

Akhmatova’s Poem is a requiem for those who died in Leningrad. That remembrance is a sac

Poem

Akhmatova died peacefully in a convalescent home in Moscow on 5 March 1966. Her body was ta

Akhmatova died peacefully in a convalescent home in Moscow on 5 March 1966. Her body was ta

Akhmatova died peacefully in a convalescent home in Moscow on 5 March 1966. Her body was ta

‘Deus conservat omnia’.

8

8

8

8

8

overleaf:

overleaf:

overleaf:

Igor and Vera Stravinsky arriving at Sheremetevo Airport in Moscow,

Igor and Vera Stravinsky arriving at Sheremetevo Airport in Moscow,

Igor and Vera Stravinsky arriving at Sheremetevo Airport in Moscow,

Igor and Vera

Stravinsky arriving at Sheremetevo Airport in Moscow,

21 September 1962

21 September 1962

21 September 1962

21 September 1962

1

1

1

1

Homesickness! that long Exposed weariness! It’s all the same to me now Where I am altogethe

Homesickness! that long Exposed weariness! It’s all the same to me now Where I am altogethe

Homesickness! that long Exposed weariness! It’s all the same to me now Where I am altogethe

Or what stones I wander over Home with a shopping bag to A house that is no more mine Than a

Or what stones I wander over Home with a shopping bag to A house that is no more mine Than a

Or what stones I wander over Home with a shopping bag to A house that is no more mine Than a

It’s all the same to me, a captive Lion - what faces I move through Bristling, or what huma

It’s all the same to me, a captive Lion - what faces I move through Bristling, or what huma

It’s all the same to me, a captive Lion - what faces I move through Bristling, or what huma

Into myself, into my separate internal World, a Kamchatka bear without ice. Where I fai

Into myself, into my separate internal World, a Kamchatka bear without ice. Where I fai

Into myself, into my separate internal World, a Kamchatka bear without ice. Where I fai

And I won’t be seduced by the thought of My native