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Almost at the End
Poems consider tyranny, freedom, poverty, anti-Semitism, neo-Stalinism, children, censorship, love, and modern life
112 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
About the author
Yevgeny Yevtushenko
150 books116 followers Евгений Евтушенко
Yevgeny Aleksandrovich Yevtushenko (Russian: Евгений Александрович Евтушенко; born 18 July 1933 in Zima Junction, Siberia) is a Soviet and Russian poet. He is also a novelist, essayist, dramatist, screenwriter, actor, editor, and a director of several films.
Yevgeny Aleksandrovich Yevtushenko (Russian: Евгений Александрович Евтушенко; born 18 July 1933 in Zima Junction, Siberia) is a Soviet and Russian poet. He is also a novelist, essayist, dramatist, screenwriter, actor, editor, and a director of several films.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 8, 2017
From my guts I learned the hunger of war
My ribs taught me the geography of Russia
Yevtushenko has always impressed me as a novelist and essayist. This first venture into his verse did not reflect those earlier joyful successes. The opening poem I Would Like is a cry for a nuanced appreciation of everything, a plea that all should have the experiences of those separated by land, class or tongue. The next poem is Fuku, a 70 page exploration of the legacy of hatred and destruction. Fuku itself is an African word meaning agent of misfortune and through the poem we touch base with the Gulag, Harlem, Paula Hitler and a depressing host of road-side attractions of atrocity: name dropping napalm and Pinochet all along its merry way. From there matters just appeared to unravel, singing the praises of the hungry children and Louis Armstrong's sweat. It was appropriate that while reading this volume I listened to the Dylan Bootleg series Volumes 1-3. Despite so much beauty, so many things have not aged well.
My ribs taught me the geography of Russia
Yevtushenko has always impressed me as a novelist and essayist. This first venture into his verse did not reflect those earlier joyful successes. The opening poem I Would Like is a cry for a nuanced appreciation of everything, a plea that all should have the experiences of those separated by land, class or tongue. The next poem is Fuku, a 70 page exploration of the legacy of hatred and destruction. Fuku itself is an African word meaning agent of misfortune and through the poem we touch base with the Gulag, Harlem, Paula Hitler and a depressing host of road-side attractions of atrocity: name dropping napalm and Pinochet all along its merry way. From there matters just appeared to unravel, singing the praises of the hungry children and Louis Armstrong's sweat. It was appropriate that while reading this volume I listened to the Dylan Bootleg series Volumes 1-3. Despite so much beauty, so many things have not aged well.
March 16, 2022
Compelling in a Whitman-esque way. I really liked the way the poetic and narrative forms intertwined in Fuku--and I am really glad that I read The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao and went to the Dominican Republic before I read this poem because it made a lot more sense with that background.
October 14, 2021
I have a 1987 autographed copy from Hungry Mind books in Minneapolis.
The book is a treasure.
The book is a treasure.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews