Contemporary Russian Poetry: A Bilingual Anthology

by Gerald Stanton Smith (Editor)

"The book is a credit to the press, a boon to everyone interested in Russian culture, and an important resource for teachers and students of Russian literature." ―Library Journal " . . . a solid and conscientious piece of work, informed by discerning taste and learning." ―Times Literary Supplement "Smith's collection of contemporary Russian poetry should be useful to anyone with a serious interest in work produced during recent years both by poets living in the U.S.S.R. and by prominent Third Wave emigrés. . . . The introductory and biographical materials are excellent." ―Publishers Weekly The work of twenty-three poets, living in Russia and abroad and writing during the period since 1975, is highlighted in this dual-language anthology. The book features an extraordinary cohort of talented poets, including Joseph Brodsky, Evgenii Rein, and Bella Akhmadulina. Notes, biographical sketches, a detailed bibliography, and an informative introduction make this an indispensable resource for teachers, students, and readers of modern Russian literature.

Genres: Poetry, Russia

392 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1993

Reviews

[Vicky Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Old Age is a Second Life"
From the Khrushchev Thaw in the 60s, through the Brezhnov Stagnation of the 70-80s, (the Gray Terror) to the Gorbachev Spring of 85-91; these contemporary Russian poets wrote about life, persecution, love, anger, pain, heartache. and family.
A warm collection of poetry on various subjects. Each bilingual 2 page spread presents the Russian script on the left and English on the right. This is an enjoyable paperback collection with numerous poets to explore.

"What would an ancient Roman recognize if he were to awaken now? Firewood? The outline of a cloud, showing the sky blue in the up above, the flat water, something in the architecture, but no one by their face."
-Joseph Brodesky, 1987 (The phrase in my title is from Brodesky as well)

[Zachary Lacan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've picked up this book so many times randomly to flip a page open, and read. There are some passages which are so moving. I am often moved to turn directly to them. The more I read, the more I know.

[Adira · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few things to mention. The first being that there are a few poets here who seem to be translated not directly from Russian but rather from another language, possibly french. This of course will change the entire poem, but I only noticed this with a few poems. The second thing I have to mention is how genius this collection is, I found myself in tears more than a few times and it always seemed to happen when I would pick this book up randomly while going about my morning. I don’t own this book, the director of my artist residency does and has lended it to me for my stay here and while at first it was a casual read in the garden it has become a very treasured anthology for me. I will definitely be purchasing my own copy when I’m back home.

[Tatyana · Rating 5 out of 5]

"… and on her one unbroken leg
hurries in her dreams to reach perfection,
picking at the last raising of bliss
in life’s pie."
-Yunna Moritz (born 1937), from “July of 80′s” (1980)

"If it hurts, it means you’re alive. It hurts to live.
Sometimes it’s interesting.
And the beloved scars (what else should we value ?)
will not wear away with the years."
- Dmitry Bobyshev, from “A Wake For The Living”

"Forgive me for being silent.
I just want to hear the night
through the thickness of concrete.
I'm not somewhere else, I'm completely
for the first time here without anything left over,
for the first time in my life at home."
- German Plisetsky, from “Don’t be jealous of my words …”

"… but in a vulgar joke is vulgar truth …"
- Evgeny Rein, from “Just Before Easter”

"The loneliness of pain and this general shuffling of feet
force people into (I suddenly forgot the word) contact."
- Bella Akhmadulina (1937- 2010), from “Sunday came. I wasn’t sad at all …”

"On the edge of breathing out and breathing in is a wave,
where life, like music, can be heard, but not seen.
An there poetry takes its lines.
An there posthumously sins are stoned for."
- Yunna Moritz (born 1937), from “On The Edge Of Breathing Out and Breathing In”

"You won't forget me, I won't forget you.
There, beyond eternal time, beyond Einstein's gloom,
every man once more is good-looking, and awkward, and partial
to having the last word -- that it's useless to utter --
and to the runner on the first snow, that passes over your skin."
- Evgeny Rein, from “Beneath Of Coats Of Arms”

"I am so tired. I don't care about anything now.
To me for only three hours in every twenty-four
comes sleep, anxious and highly strung,
and into this sleep the desire for death is planted.

I haven't the strength to read the book of evil,
and the book of bliss has been read right through.
O mother Death, take this tiredness from me,
cover with thy garment my miserable nakedness."
- Boris Chichibabin, from “Take this tiredness from me …”

[Robert Heckner · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent bilingual anthology of Russian poetry from about the mid-1970s to 1990. Very interesting reading. Some of the translations were very lyrical, while others though solid and accurate failed felt less poetic. Worth a read for anyone that enjoys poetry, particularly Russian poetry; or is interested in the arts during the later Soviet period.

[Nikolai Kozlov · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting selection with themes that remain topical today

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not sure I loved these translations. Many of them seemed very awkward. Especially those which explictly reference the rhyming scheme in the poem and yet the translation does not rhyme. I thought this was a bad call. The text provides a nice introduction to a large number of Russian poets though, which is nice.

[SmarterLilac · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love this. What's most impressive about it is that you don't have to be a Russian language student to be moved by the pieces in this book.