Anna Andreeva Akhmatova was one of the most significant figures of Russian literature of the XX century. She was recognized as a classic of Russian poetry back in the 1920s, she was loved and read, but because of the persecution arranged during the Soviet era, many of her best works were not published in her homeland.
Now the whole world knows about this poetess. Soviet censors called her "either a nun or a harlot", in whom fornication was mixed with prayer. It was believed that her poems are permeated with the spirit of decadence and pessimism.
Now her works are appreciated, although, of course, one cannot but deny the fact that this poetry is an amateur. We have collected 10 of the most famous poems by Anna Akhmatova.
10. Confusion
One of the poems of the poetess "Confusion"With which the collection" Rosary "begins. It describes the feelings of a woman who began to have a passion for a man. We see the gradual development of love (although this storm of feelings is difficult to call love).
In the first part, the heroine is struck by the gaze of a man, burns her and makes her realize that she is a special person. In the second part of the poem, she is ready to submit to male charm. But the hero of her dreams is not enthusiastic about Anna and does not pay attention to her.
Love fever does not allow her to take a sober look at things, everything is spinning before her eyes, she sees only a red tulip - a symbol of their passion.
The third part is the denouement. The man of her dreams came up, but only out of politeness, and such a stormy romance that could start with them, and sunk into eternity. Passion passed, and the soul of the main character again became empty.
9. Escorted a friend to the front ...
A little poem "Guided a friend to the front ...", Just a few lines. But a whole story is embedded in them. We find ourselves in the end of a romance novel.
The main character survived the breakup. It seems to us that her words sound indifferent. But this indifference is just a mask, under it lies a silent sob.
Akhmatova understands that you can’t cry, this is where her strength and pride are manifested. But her breath caught from betrayal, her heart froze, her whole familiar life was left behind.
Sounds from the outside world that reach her consciousness become funeral. She buries her former life. The last lines convey her mood: doom, emptiness of life.
8. I learned how to live wisely ...
The famous poem "I learned how to live wisely ..."Was included in her first collection" Evening ", which the poetess was able to publish in 1912 at her own expense. She did not expect this, but her collection became unexpectedly popular.
This work testifies to the fact that the spiritual formation of the poetess began, she became calmer and wiser.
Life, marriage with Nikolai Gumilyov required her to create coziness, a homely atmosphere. She was able to get rid of unnecessary anxieties and learned to calmly perceive the environment.
She recreates in her poetry a certain pacifying atmosphere, noting such smallest details as clusters of mountain ash or burdocks, purring of her beloved cat ...
She achieved such inner harmony that any interference from outside, such as the arrival of a person, is not able to disturb her peace.
7. So many requests from a beloved always ...
Composition "So many requests from a beloved always ...”Talks about a woman who is out of love with a man. She seems to have continued relationships, but none of them feels love.
The heroine of the poem asks for only one thing - to save her letters so that descendants can judge them. And in the end, she hopes that in return for love and peace she will receive at least glory, because what was required for her soul, she never received.
This poem is a reflection of the story that happened in her life. She married Nikolai Gumilyov, who passionately sought this marriage, even tried to commit suicide due to her refusals. But after the wedding, he cooled her, and in his poems he began to describe her as a poisoner, then as a sorceress.
After the birth of a son, their relationship became formal, and after 3 years of marriage, Anna met her husband with letters from actress Olga Vysotskaya, having seen which, the poet only smiled. After this episode, this poem was written.
6. In the evening
In the poem "In the evening", Written in 1913, we again encounter the feelings of a woman who loves but is not loved.
She is not shy about talking about her emotions, which prevent her from enjoying the festive atmosphere of a summer evening. Music rings in the garden, oysters in ice on her dish, but she only feels grief.
From the first lines we see a break, which only worsens in the future. She - loves, loves with all her heart, and for him she is only a faithful friend who admires her, but indifferently and calmly, while she herself burns with passion.
Nevertheless, the poem ends on an optimistic note. Love in it still lives, contrary to circumstances. This is a classic piece about unrequited feelings.
5. Song of the last meeting
Akhmatova considered her first works naive and too childish. In them, she described her imaginary world. There she led her life, which had nothing like reality.
Her early works recount her non-existent novels. This is exactly the poem "Song of the last meeting».
These works were written so realistically that many friends and acquaintances began to suspect that real events were described in it. But this is not so.
Her lyrical heroine sets off to meet her lover, experiencing extraordinary excitement. She has lost her sense of reality. And all because the lovers were forced to break up.
And she is ready to sacrifice herself for an imaginary love, her feelings are so strong that she is ready to die for her hero.
4. Clasped her hands under a dark veil ...
Like the previous poem, the work "Clasped her hands under a dark veil ..."- an expression of the poet’s inner yearning. It was written in 1911, when she was already married to N. Gumilev. But she did not dedicate her love lyrics to her husband, whom she married out of compassion.
She did not have novels on the side, but there was a huge thirst for love. And she splashed out everything in a poem.
So Akhmatova describes a quarrel between lovers. It is not clear why they quarreled, but both show strong feelings. Seeing the manifestations of her lover's feelings, she tries to justify herself by saying that all this was a joke.
This is her sparkling feeling, without pathos and heroism. But the man is not ready to forgive, his will is much stronger than the will of a woman, and his decision not to change.
3. The door is half open ...
The poem "The door is half open ..."Entered the collection" Evening ", which was well received by the reading public and critics. We see in front of us a woman who had a break with her loved one.
What exactly happened, one can only guess. Perhaps they had a fight, and because of this, the man forgot a glove and a whip on the table.
If in the middle of the work we hope for a happy outcome, then in the end there is a small hint of a possible death of the heroine.
The result was a psychological novelty, concise, but expressive.
2. Gray-eyed king
The poem "Gray-eyed king"Appeared immediately after her wedding. Literary scholars for a long time could not understand to whom it was dedicated. But most were inclined to believe that this work is a reflection of her relationship in marriage, the collapse of all magical hopes.
This is something like a fabulous ballad, in which from the first lines you feel "hopeless pain." It is associated with the death of some “gray-eyed king,” about whom the indifferent husband reports. He does not care, he, as usual, goes to work.
But in the end there is a hint of the secret meetings of the heroine with this very king: the color of her daughter’s eyes. This might be perceived as a hint at the secret life of Akhmatova herself, but all experts are inclined to believe that these are only the dreams of an enthusiastic girl.
1. Requiem (poem)
«Requiem"- this is one of the greatest works of the poetess was created after the arrest of the only son of Akhmatova - Leo.
Stalin's repressions also affected her family. After she wrote a letter to Stalin himself, using the connections of Pasternak, Anna was able to secure the release of her son. But after 3 years he was arrested again. Akhmatova’s prayers did not help, Leo was sent to Siberian camps.
For 2 years, she created her Requiem, not even daring to record it because of total control. She memorized these lines and read it to the closest people.