Against Pushkin's Answer Poem by Liza Sud

Against Pushkin's Answer

You ate the bread that was brought by the rabble,
you didn't know the price of their whip's pain,
and you in Kronstadt from twenty to last days
have not confessed a sailor or a slave.

You did not know their aim and thirst for changes,
you did not know their fall and the Wake up,
the ax, that's left to us by Dostoevsky,
and Kronstadt galleys after the exile.

The twentieth century turned all this upside down:
a poet had to live among the crowd.
in Norenskaya - for a better napping,
Rose of the world in prison took a shower.

In the end, who is black, who is like the Word?
Christ's words - the proclamation of the crowd.
but you - rebuke, turn them away, condemning,
and banish them for their call of love.


***

В ответ на ответ Пушкина толпе в стихотворении 'Поэт и толпа'.

Ты кушал хлеб, тебе носимый чернью,
не ведал цену боли их бича,
и ты в Кронштадте с двадцати до смерти
не исповедовал раба и моряка.

Не знал их цель и жажду исправленья,
не знал падения и их подъем,
топор, который нам оставил Достоевский,
в Кронштадте ссыльных вслед за каторгой.

В двадцатом веке все переменилось:
и стал поэт среди той черни жить.
И в Норенскую - чтобы лучше снилось,
и Розу мира - чтоб в тюрьме полить.

В итоге, черен кто? и кто подобен Слову?
Христа слова - в воззвании толпы.
но ты - их осуждаешь, прекословишь,
и на призыв любви - их прогоняешь ты.

Saturday, June 11, 2016
Topic(s) of this poem: answers
POET'S NOTES ABOUT THE POEM
This poem is a comment and my answer to Pushkin's attitude to the crowd (rabble, as he calls them) in his poem 'The Poet and the crowd'.

Alexander Pushkin,1828. Translated by Philip Nikolayev.
The Poet and the Crowd
Procul este, profani.
[Away, profaners.]
The poet's absent-minded hand
Strummed the inspired lyre. He sang on
While unenlightened folk around,
Expressions proud and coldly frowned,
Listened with meaningless attention.
And the crass rabble questioned thus:
"To what end is his tuneful singing?
With earfuls of this soulful ringing,
To what goal is he leading us?
Where is the lesson in his chanting?
Our hearts both breaking and enchanting,
Oh waywardmost of sorcerers,
Your song is freer than the breeze,
But just as fruitless. Tell us please,
Where's the utility to us? "
The Poet
Be silent, senseless mob, grunt not,
Wage worker, slave to care and want,
I cannot stand your cheeky rant!
Worm of the earth, not son of heaven,
Utility's what you believe in,
Your judgment is inane and hollow:
You weigh the torso of Apollo,
Yet in his form you see no good.
That marble is a god! So what?
You much prefer your cooking pot,
Because therein you cook your food!
The Rabble
No, Sir! If you are heaven's chosen,
Not someone who's a dime a dozen,
Use divine gifts as it befits:
Conduits for useful benefits!
Correct with verse your brethren's hearts,
For we are cowardly, ungrateful,
Sly, foolish, wicked, shameless, hateful,
Slaves, liars, targets for your dart.
We are cold castrates of the heart!
Berate us then, our vice to lessen,
Loving thy neighbor. We too may love you
If you instill in us your lesson
The while we have a listen of you.
The Poet
Away with you! The peaceful poet
Cares not for your stupidity!
The lyre cannot revive your lot:
Persist in your depravity.
Each of you frightens like a coffin.
Think of the plethora of fine things
You've used to exercise your vileness:
Whips, prisons, axes; - enough, mandmen!
Since on your sidewalk townfolk walk,
Sweeping it clean is useful work,
Yet do you ask the altar priests
To ply the broom and sweep the streets?
No, not for mundane trepidation,
Nor mortal gain, nor battleground,
But we were born for inspiration,
For prayerful and wondrous sound.
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Daniel Brick 15 July 2016

This is a complex issue. I recall reading the Pushkin poem but I didn't get back to you on it. I'm going to write what I intended to do last month in an email to you. I can understand how this poem troubled you but there may be an explanation. See my email. But your response is forcefully stated and you have Dostoyevsky, Daniil Andreev and John of Kronstadt to support your censure of the proud unfeeling poet. It's important to take a stand like this when you confront an injustice to people.

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