Wow. You take us to new worlds of words, cries and sighs.
People are so valuable- one cannot predict or understand just what priceless talents exist in every carload of immigrants dragged away. A few could be great. All produce needed goods and services.
Yet we discard people like trash. I am ashamed. Billserle.com
Bill, so true. Perhaps the next Einstein or Irving Berlin will end up in El Salvador. No Levi Strauss jeans or the next iteration of a Sergey Brin search engine. No availability of a Madeline Albright to fill essential government jobs. If one truly believes we need to make America great again, simple answer, pass an intelligent immigration law that protects the border while allowing those who legitimately want to immigrate to do so.
Exactly. Also, immigration is what keeps our population steady, because, much to Elon Musk's dismay, we are as a nation having fewer babies. There's so much good immigration accomplishes. Of course, let's list people who are immigrants on the dark side: Musk, Thiel, Melania, Ivana, Gorka, most of Rubio's family, etc.
This, was an amazing piece Greg, the parallels of a world we’re well a on path toward! Thanks for providing such a well crafted piece, on the life of Anna and Requiem!!
Thanks, Bill. You make an excellent point. How much more could we as a species achieve, if we didn't round up potential Einsteins, and if the rest of us didn't expend so much energy fighting for our rights? Fascism is retrograde. It kills. It drags us backwards, always.
Thanks for broadening my poetic horizons. I thought that poetry was like, "A bunch of the boys were whooping it up down at the old Malmute saloon". You really are a treasure!
Greg, you once again introduce us to someone from the past, seemingly irrelevant until now. As we become connected by some shared life experience, it is an awe-inspiring moment to learn about Anna in a way that only you can accomplish. From deep connection with words on a page, burning tears fall, bringing instant sadness. Why do we save, then “burn” a secret, treasured memento, photo, poem, or letter that is so personal and revealing, intended only for one, with fear of betrayal or embarrassment for others, believing that it is still in the universe forever, and that no one cares--the testimony lives. If we never had tragedy touch our lives, we would not care so deeply. I wish eternal care for Anna. I loved her “workaround” to fracture her work—there is always another approach to try in any obstacle. Her work lives on, thanks to you for growing the audience, no matter how AI screws with it.
Thanks, Beverly. The two things that popped out at me, in reading about her, were the burning the pages, as you say, and also the woman who understands that she is a poet asking if she can describe the horrors, and being satisfied to hear the response. It speaks to the power of poetry, and its necessity, and, unfortunately, to its applicability to Trump and his artless minions.
If the Trump’s administration is successful in silencing voices and completing his takeover of our government, we are assured that writer’s words written in darkness will remain and one day brighten the world with truth and evidence for future generations.
So often, you take me back to existential shrinkology school, reading great writers and philosophers. It'd be so much nicer to hide between those ivy-covered walls these days than to be on the outside.
Amazing research, once more. I may not look at my Modigliani poster quite the same again.
Totally irrelevant to the important messages... One of my fav assignments in graphic design school was to design an alphabet that looked nothing like any recognizable characters. Most appeared like just abstract patterns. When they start invading, my walls may be newly covered in modern-art wallpaper. But the message, obviously: stop the seige before we need secret wallpaper just to record our thoughts.
Thanks, Maureen. Oh, that's such an awesome assignment! It's interesting, because we are now watching S2 of Andor, and even though everyone in the galaxy speaks English (the Ghormans speak some version of French, which is hysterical), the script looks nothing like ours, and I was just thinking if there was an actual table to it, if the letters really did spell out something, and of course they must.
Secret wallpaper. Yeah, that's the path we're marching down...
Each week I think my Sunday literature lesson cannot get better, each week you surpass my great expectation. Thank you.
After digesting your and Anna's words a darkness overcame me. People contemplate their moment of death, many, most believe a bright light will whisk them away, happy childhood memories flooding their consciousness, thoughts of life's joy making the journey into the great beyond, perhaps simply the great void a pleasant experience. For Anna when the funeral hour comes, remembrance of three hundred hours outside of her son's prison and black Marias floods her consciousness, sad and painful moments are her lasting memories.
Thanks to would be Pope Ignoramus Trumpotsky I fear when death comes, a blackness will accompany me to the Great Void. Such is today's plight that he sucks the joy that should be our existence, albeit with the always present moments of sadness to give perspective, for no one will ever know complete happiness, frankly that would be a bore. Happiness tinged with trials and tribulations, a life well lived. Nothing but daily trials and tribulations, not so much so. As someone famous once said, FUCK TRUMP!!! So sad!
Yes, the darkness. It makes me understand how lucky we who have grown up and lived in the West, and especially here in the US, have been. Hardship is unavoidable, but there are certainly levels of it, and manmade hardship, manmade terror, is not something we're accustomed to. That's probably why so many people are in denial about Trump...they still don't get what he is and the danger he represents because they cannot imagine it. Nothing in their experience has prepared them for it.
If there is a God, He would smite him for the Pope tweet...
Sadly, even if they are impacted, reality hits and bites too many MAGANuts will consider it their patriotic duty to support dear leader. This the essence of a cult, I cannot fathom how they, unlike you and me cannot see how the dark side is becoming the norm, as dangerous as that is. Perhaps when fElon eliminates a rural hospital and a child dies they will wake up. Hopefully for their sake the dawn will arise before this.
I am deeply moved by the guided tour you just took me on: through Russia before, during and after the Stalin years, as witnessed by a fascinating soul capable of communicating the raw feelings of the time. In calling this a guided tour it is really your skill and dedication I am praising, Greg, for the research and translation skills you apply to bringing to life and retelling for your readers an impactful human story that someone told in another place and time—but cries out here and now. We need poetry. We need people who remind us that we need poetry. Thanks, Greg!
Thanks, Earl. I loved that excerpt from the NYT critic. Poetry as "amenity" is such a brilliant way to express it. A century ago, there seemed to be a lot more really good writers from the South than from the North. Someone asked why, and one of the writers, I can't remember which, said: "Because we lost."
Wonderful story today Greg. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about this wonderful woman and her life. She survived through some terrible times in a land that still has yet to really find its footing in the world regardless of what Putin says. As for Modigliani’s portrait here, it is quite stunning and one of the very few times when I wished I had been blessed with the money to own such a piece; at least for a little while. Great read. Thanks so much.
Thanks, SPW. I've always loved the Modigliani portraits, but honestly, I didn't even know his first name until this weekend. It's always fascinating to me to learn how all these brilliant people interacted. Modi was good friends with Picasso, and according to lore, his last word, as he lay dying, was: "Modigliani." As for Anna, she was a force of nature and of art. A remarkable woman.
This is the Russian personality I grew up knowing and falling in love with, my mother’s friend. Vera was a well known singer, gypsy songs in particular, from Vladivostok. Same charisma as her brother…Your lines capture perfectly what I remember. I was shocked to read this…it brought back an awe in the literal sense of not being able to comprehend someone spiritually built like this. I was changed forever knowing Vera and I guarantee Frost was never the same after that. Never.
I think living under constant oppression -- which Russians have done since, oh, the 1570s -- forges this kind of spirit, and it expresses itself with this kind of noble defiance. Anna had gravitas. He did as a poet, as a muse, as a model, as a friend, as an activist. Were she only one of those things it would have been the same, but all of it in one person is just remarkable. I just bought the complete poetry book, so I'll see if there's more about Frost...but I'm sure you're right.
What a great thought to reflect on; since 1570’s…..ongoing context for DNA change. Parents whispering, “in my day we…”. Passing on how to search for and store acorns for the winter. There is an interesting book I found boring but can’t get out of my head and think about more and more…. I think it’s by a guy Yaffa on surviving as a teacher in University, keeping your integrity while walking the tightrope of gov’t interference. Keeping a career. I’m going to search my library for it now….interesting right? Traditions of intellectualism and survival under authoritarianism. It’s not all drama& meme. The art of not saying much; I recall such in holocaust survivors who were very prepared to stay silent among the ignorant who couldn’t handle much. New skill for Americans?
We know the plan is not working; when you have to shift from ElSalvador-Libya it is not a sign of being successful atkeeping the boogie-man at bay. His voters didn’t know what to expect but he had expectations. Bad performance going on when you think you’ve got the crowd but they don’t like your coin and they’d rather eat at a DC restaurant with good service then hate on who you hate. Such disobedience citizens and you worked so hard to give them that great show;fucking ingrates. And what will the fuck em all look like? When do we find that out? Take the pride out of evil and the air goes out of the balloon and the parade goes home. We are at the Crossroads…the lawyers must step up en mass. Everyone together and stand there in silence on strike until he goes home. Where the boogie-man awaits and he knows it. Eva Braun had her wedding and her couture outfit for her wedding right before her beloved moron killed her inn her moment of happiness, for the sake of his pride; not to be hung up like Mussolini. Made immortal by fame, he wanted a guarantee he’d not feel embarrassed after death. He was never really nice to Eva but he did make sure she had a nice dress and I think it was Dior shoes to die in.
Beautiful tribute to an iconic woman. I will seek out her writings & try to be inspired as I fight back current feelings of hopelessness. (My ex husband, James, idolized Modigliani & painted me as one of his models when I was in my late 30’s. I need an updated version with all my silver tresses).
Thanks, Amy! I just bought the book the critic was writing about in the excerpt.
This portrait is, I assume, the one that is your avatar? That tracks! Modigliani always one of my favorite artists, although I knew nothing about him until this weekend.
I read this with such a mix of emotions. Sadness for Anna. Appreciation for the care you took in honoring her and connecting her life to ours. Fear for the horror, as you called it, that may come to us as it came to Anna. And hope. I still hope we’ll stop the horror, having learned what can happen if we don’t fight back. Thank you for telling her story.
Thanks, Mary Ann. I also felt the gamut of emotions, reading about her. She lived a long time, and made it through the worst of the Soviet period. If she always had hope, then so can we!
Greg, I like to imagine Anna reading your exquisite remembrance tribute, pausing at the conclusion…then looking at you, seeing a kindred soul, then saying thank you.
What a gift she was, you are…yes, we will prevail.
I've only read a little of Akhmatova, so I was delighted to see your translations. One of the exercises my poetry group did was similar to your approach, though it was before Google translate: find enough versions of a poem we love and "mix them in a blender" to get to something we can then put in our OWN words that satisfies us that it is true to both meaning and cadence at the same time. I did it with an old Celtic poem about a monk and his cat working side by side, on his writing, on mouse hunting; years later, I named my cat after him: Pangur. He reminds me thus of my connection to writing in general. The last lines:
Upon a pounce we both rejoice, each with our catch:
The mouse, the meaning pleases us to jubilation. We work together, yes,
And yet alone, and each respects the other’s skill,
The mastery of the thing that never-ending lures us on.
Thanks, Susan. These blenderizations are of course a lot of fun for me to do, although I do feel like I'm stealing a flame somehow doing it. I LOVE the lines you wrote. So good!
Wow. You take us to new worlds of words, cries and sighs.
People are so valuable- one cannot predict or understand just what priceless talents exist in every carload of immigrants dragged away. A few could be great. All produce needed goods and services.
Yet we discard people like trash. I am ashamed. Billserle.com
Bill, so true. Perhaps the next Einstein or Irving Berlin will end up in El Salvador. No Levi Strauss jeans or the next iteration of a Sergey Brin search engine. No availability of a Madeline Albright to fill essential government jobs. If one truly believes we need to make America great again, simple answer, pass an intelligent immigration law that protects the border while allowing those who legitimately want to immigrate to do so.
Exactly. Also, immigration is what keeps our population steady, because, much to Elon Musk's dismay, we are as a nation having fewer babies. There's so much good immigration accomplishes. Of course, let's list people who are immigrants on the dark side: Musk, Thiel, Melania, Ivana, Gorka, most of Rubio's family, etc.
This, was an amazing piece Greg, the parallels of a world we’re well a on path toward! Thanks for providing such a well crafted piece, on the life of Anna and Requiem!!
Thanks so much, Patrick!
Thanks, Bill. You make an excellent point. How much more could we as a species achieve, if we didn't round up potential Einsteins, and if the rest of us didn't expend so much energy fighting for our rights? Fascism is retrograde. It kills. It drags us backwards, always.
Thanks for broadening my poetic horizons. I thought that poetry was like, "A bunch of the boys were whooping it up down at the old Malmute saloon". You really are a treasure!
Thanks, Dennis. I appreciate that.
There are, of course, many colorful verses about men from Nantucket that one could share, too... ; )
Greg, you once again introduce us to someone from the past, seemingly irrelevant until now. As we become connected by some shared life experience, it is an awe-inspiring moment to learn about Anna in a way that only you can accomplish. From deep connection with words on a page, burning tears fall, bringing instant sadness. Why do we save, then “burn” a secret, treasured memento, photo, poem, or letter that is so personal and revealing, intended only for one, with fear of betrayal or embarrassment for others, believing that it is still in the universe forever, and that no one cares--the testimony lives. If we never had tragedy touch our lives, we would not care so deeply. I wish eternal care for Anna. I loved her “workaround” to fracture her work—there is always another approach to try in any obstacle. Her work lives on, thanks to you for growing the audience, no matter how AI screws with it.
Thanks, Beverly. The two things that popped out at me, in reading about her, were the burning the pages, as you say, and also the woman who understands that she is a poet asking if she can describe the horrors, and being satisfied to hear the response. It speaks to the power of poetry, and its necessity, and, unfortunately, to its applicability to Trump and his artless minions.
If the Trump’s administration is successful in silencing voices and completing his takeover of our government, we are assured that writer’s words written in darkness will remain and one day brighten the world with truth and evidence for future generations.
And, yes…permission
So often, you take me back to existential shrinkology school, reading great writers and philosophers. It'd be so much nicer to hide between those ivy-covered walls these days than to be on the outside.
Amazing research, once more. I may not look at my Modigliani poster quite the same again.
Totally irrelevant to the important messages... One of my fav assignments in graphic design school was to design an alphabet that looked nothing like any recognizable characters. Most appeared like just abstract patterns. When they start invading, my walls may be newly covered in modern-art wallpaper. But the message, obviously: stop the seige before we need secret wallpaper just to record our thoughts.
Thanks, Maureen. Oh, that's such an awesome assignment! It's interesting, because we are now watching S2 of Andor, and even though everyone in the galaxy speaks English (the Ghormans speak some version of French, which is hysterical), the script looks nothing like ours, and I was just thinking if there was an actual table to it, if the letters really did spell out something, and of course they must.
Secret wallpaper. Yeah, that's the path we're marching down...
Each week I think my Sunday literature lesson cannot get better, each week you surpass my great expectation. Thank you.
After digesting your and Anna's words a darkness overcame me. People contemplate their moment of death, many, most believe a bright light will whisk them away, happy childhood memories flooding their consciousness, thoughts of life's joy making the journey into the great beyond, perhaps simply the great void a pleasant experience. For Anna when the funeral hour comes, remembrance of three hundred hours outside of her son's prison and black Marias floods her consciousness, sad and painful moments are her lasting memories.
Thanks to would be Pope Ignoramus Trumpotsky I fear when death comes, a blackness will accompany me to the Great Void. Such is today's plight that he sucks the joy that should be our existence, albeit with the always present moments of sadness to give perspective, for no one will ever know complete happiness, frankly that would be a bore. Happiness tinged with trials and tribulations, a life well lived. Nothing but daily trials and tribulations, not so much so. As someone famous once said, FUCK TRUMP!!! So sad!
Thanks, Old Man .
Yes, the darkness. It makes me understand how lucky we who have grown up and lived in the West, and especially here in the US, have been. Hardship is unavoidable, but there are certainly levels of it, and manmade hardship, manmade terror, is not something we're accustomed to. That's probably why so many people are in denial about Trump...they still don't get what he is and the danger he represents because they cannot imagine it. Nothing in their experience has prepared them for it.
If there is a God, He would smite him for the Pope tweet...
Sadly, even if they are impacted, reality hits and bites too many MAGANuts will consider it their patriotic duty to support dear leader. This the essence of a cult, I cannot fathom how they, unlike you and me cannot see how the dark side is becoming the norm, as dangerous as that is. Perhaps when fElon eliminates a rural hospital and a child dies they will wake up. Hopefully for their sake the dawn will arise before this.
Requiem, indeed. Devastating. Thank you, Greg!
Thanks, Steve. Devastating is exactly how I felt reading her work.
I am deeply moved by the guided tour you just took me on: through Russia before, during and after the Stalin years, as witnessed by a fascinating soul capable of communicating the raw feelings of the time. In calling this a guided tour it is really your skill and dedication I am praising, Greg, for the research and translation skills you apply to bringing to life and retelling for your readers an impactful human story that someone told in another place and time—but cries out here and now. We need poetry. We need people who remind us that we need poetry. Thanks, Greg!
Thanks, Earl. I loved that excerpt from the NYT critic. Poetry as "amenity" is such a brilliant way to express it. A century ago, there seemed to be a lot more really good writers from the South than from the North. Someone asked why, and one of the writers, I can't remember which, said: "Because we lost."
So beautiful, so relevant...so needed. Thank you for all you do.
Thank you so much! Much appreciate, J.
Wonderful story today Greg. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about this wonderful woman and her life. She survived through some terrible times in a land that still has yet to really find its footing in the world regardless of what Putin says. As for Modigliani’s portrait here, it is quite stunning and one of the very few times when I wished I had been blessed with the money to own such a piece; at least for a little while. Great read. Thanks so much.
Thanks, SPW. I've always loved the Modigliani portraits, but honestly, I didn't even know his first name until this weekend. It's always fascinating to me to learn how all these brilliant people interacted. Modi was good friends with Picasso, and according to lore, his last word, as he lay dying, was: "Modigliani." As for Anna, she was a force of nature and of art. A remarkable woman.
This is the Russian personality I grew up knowing and falling in love with, my mother’s friend. Vera was a well known singer, gypsy songs in particular, from Vladivostok. Same charisma as her brother…Your lines capture perfectly what I remember. I was shocked to read this…it brought back an awe in the literal sense of not being able to comprehend someone spiritually built like this. I was changed forever knowing Vera and I guarantee Frost was never the same after that. Never.
I think living under constant oppression -- which Russians have done since, oh, the 1570s -- forges this kind of spirit, and it expresses itself with this kind of noble defiance. Anna had gravitas. He did as a poet, as a muse, as a model, as a friend, as an activist. Were she only one of those things it would have been the same, but all of it in one person is just remarkable. I just bought the complete poetry book, so I'll see if there's more about Frost...but I'm sure you're right.
What a great thought to reflect on; since 1570’s…..ongoing context for DNA change. Parents whispering, “in my day we…”. Passing on how to search for and store acorns for the winter. There is an interesting book I found boring but can’t get out of my head and think about more and more…. I think it’s by a guy Yaffa on surviving as a teacher in University, keeping your integrity while walking the tightrope of gov’t interference. Keeping a career. I’m going to search my library for it now….interesting right? Traditions of intellectualism and survival under authoritarianism. It’s not all drama& meme. The art of not saying much; I recall such in holocaust survivors who were very prepared to stay silent among the ignorant who couldn’t handle much. New skill for Americans?
We know the plan is not working; when you have to shift from ElSalvador-Libya it is not a sign of being successful atkeeping the boogie-man at bay. His voters didn’t know what to expect but he had expectations. Bad performance going on when you think you’ve got the crowd but they don’t like your coin and they’d rather eat at a DC restaurant with good service then hate on who you hate. Such disobedience citizens and you worked so hard to give them that great show;fucking ingrates. And what will the fuck em all look like? When do we find that out? Take the pride out of evil and the air goes out of the balloon and the parade goes home. We are at the Crossroads…the lawyers must step up en mass. Everyone together and stand there in silence on strike until he goes home. Where the boogie-man awaits and he knows it. Eva Braun had her wedding and her couture outfit for her wedding right before her beloved moron killed her inn her moment of happiness, for the sake of his pride; not to be hung up like Mussolini. Made immortal by fame, he wanted a guarantee he’d not feel embarrassed after death. He was never really nice to Eva but he did make sure she had a nice dress and I think it was Dior shoes to die in.
Thanks for reading…I’m in a mood at the moment. Watchine crossroads. I feel like we are in a medieval novel.
Beautiful tribute to an iconic woman. I will seek out her writings & try to be inspired as I fight back current feelings of hopelessness. (My ex husband, James, idolized Modigliani & painted me as one of his models when I was in my late 30’s. I need an updated version with all my silver tresses).
Thanks, Amy! I just bought the book the critic was writing about in the excerpt.
This portrait is, I assume, the one that is your avatar? That tracks! Modigliani always one of my favorite artists, although I knew nothing about him until this weekend.
Thank you Greg.
Thanks, Gary!
I read this with such a mix of emotions. Sadness for Anna. Appreciation for the care you took in honoring her and connecting her life to ours. Fear for the horror, as you called it, that may come to us as it came to Anna. And hope. I still hope we’ll stop the horror, having learned what can happen if we don’t fight back. Thank you for telling her story.
Thanks, Mary Ann. I also felt the gamut of emotions, reading about her. She lived a long time, and made it through the worst of the Soviet period. If she always had hope, then so can we!
Greg, I like to imagine Anna reading your exquisite remembrance tribute, pausing at the conclusion…then looking at you, seeing a kindred soul, then saying thank you.
What a gift she was, you are…yes, we will prevail.
Thanks, Dawna. I hope she wouldn't object to me summoning her spirit!
Greg, I think she would be pleased to know her spirit prevails with you, thru you and many others!
I've only read a little of Akhmatova, so I was delighted to see your translations. One of the exercises my poetry group did was similar to your approach, though it was before Google translate: find enough versions of a poem we love and "mix them in a blender" to get to something we can then put in our OWN words that satisfies us that it is true to both meaning and cadence at the same time. I did it with an old Celtic poem about a monk and his cat working side by side, on his writing, on mouse hunting; years later, I named my cat after him: Pangur. He reminds me thus of my connection to writing in general. The last lines:
Upon a pounce we both rejoice, each with our catch:
The mouse, the meaning pleases us to jubilation. We work together, yes,
And yet alone, and each respects the other’s skill,
The mastery of the thing that never-ending lures us on.
Thanks, Susan. These blenderizations are of course a lot of fun for me to do, although I do feel like I'm stealing a flame somehow doing it. I LOVE the lines you wrote. So good!
What a delight, Greg. Thank you.