It'd be great if you were able to bring us more Russian poetry in future posts. If you're taking requests, Alexander Blok is a figure whose work I'd love better to understand.
I agree, Martin -usually I don't like analysis of poetry, as it ruins some magic, to me, as in how Pushkin had said, "алгеброй гармонию поверив" ; yet this essay is tender, thorough, wise, magnetic even, in short, excellent indeed.
Thank you, Lisa. Enjoyed this post tremendously.
(Needless to add -I happen to love Brodsky)
(I hope you're subscribed to Larisa Rimerman -she has an essays' cycle on Russian Poets Before abd After Revolution, including Blok. She's very passionate, knowledeable, and does an amazing work bringing Russian poets to the readers, their work and their often very tragic fate)
One of my favorite books is a compilation called "Homer In English" edited by George Steiner that compiles both translations of Homer over the centuries and instances where poets like Derek Walcott et al wrote their own work connected to the Homeric tradition. This post makes me wish there was a companion volume of translations of other Homer-influenced work from other languages.
Appreciate the close reading of this poem. A contrast to the heroic "Ulysses" of Tennyson and altogether more human.
Many thanks Liza. That's really excellent.
It'd be great if you were able to bring us more Russian poetry in future posts. If you're taking requests, Alexander Blok is a figure whose work I'd love better to understand.
I agree, Martin -usually I don't like analysis of poetry, as it ruins some magic, to me, as in how Pushkin had said, "алгеброй гармонию поверив" ; yet this essay is tender, thorough, wise, magnetic even, in short, excellent indeed.
Thank you, Lisa. Enjoyed this post tremendously.
(Needless to add -I happen to love Brodsky)
(I hope you're subscribed to Larisa Rimerman -she has an essays' cycle on Russian Poets Before abd After Revolution, including Blok. She's very passionate, knowledeable, and does an amazing work bringing Russian poets to the readers, their work and their often very tragic fate)
One of my favorite books is a compilation called "Homer In English" edited by George Steiner that compiles both translations of Homer over the centuries and instances where poets like Derek Walcott et al wrote their own work connected to the Homeric tradition. This post makes me wish there was a companion volume of translations of other Homer-influenced work from other languages.