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Larisa Rimerman's avatar

I am so glad that i “pushed” you to reread our drunkard genius. Soon I will come to Blok. Thank you.

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Chen Rafaeli's avatar

....that is just to say that I did spend an evening re-reading Esenin.

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Portia's avatar

An unbearably sad story, redeemed by beautiful verses. Thanks, Larisa, for your hard work. I can see the love you feel for Russian poetry.

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Larisa Rimerman's avatar

Lost my big comment. Anew: Portia, I am so grateful to you for your appreciation of my work! But I love my poets, I read and reread them. Just like you with Esenin and Blok. I appreciate your love and many others to Russian poets even for some, in my poor translation. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

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Portia's avatar

Larisa, translating poetry is extremely difficult, even great poets themselves struggle with it. But your translations manage to capture a bit of Esenin's wonderful gift, and that's enough.

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Larisa Rimerman's avatar

Thank you Portia. With your blessing, i decided to continue with Blok. I hope not to lose a new essay, which I didn't start yet. I decided to write Afterword as a last part of Esenin.

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Larisa Rimerman's avatar

Wrote a comment, pressed "post" and don't see my comment

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Portia's avatar

I can see it, Larisa. Sometimes, it takes a bit for a comment to show.

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Larisa Rimerman's avatar

Thank you, Portia. You know, every, Russian (not actually only Russian) loves this drunkard genius poetry by heart and sing his verses without even knowing it's Esenin. I appreciate your understanding, but I enjoy reading and rereading my poets. You love them also, and this helps me!

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Nov 14
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Larisa Rimerman's avatar

His malaise consisted on not having some kind of pivot to depend on, some kind of support inside of himself. From tzar's family to communists, it's a huge territory to understand for the uneducated village boy, who was a natural Genius in Russian poetry. Much easier to find solution in vodka with his drinking companions. You know, all Russia even today read by heart and sing his poems. It is such a tragedy. By the way, he reminds me 15 (?) century French poet-thief Francois Villon.

PS Thank you for subscribing to my Substack. I hope not to desappoint you.

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Nov 15
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Larisa Rimerman's avatar

Thank you so much for our conversation. I wrote: Russian people sing Esenin's poems as popular songs now. He is the most popular poet of all times in Russia.

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Nov 15
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Larisa Rimerman's avatar

You are not mistaken, he sang International in Berlin, their first city on their trip, I wrote about it in my essay. We both translate, don't worry about it. Is French your language?

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