Vladimir Mayakovsky. Dreamer and Herald
Mayakovsky and Poetry
Listen,
if stars are lit
it means - there is someone who needs it.
It means - someone wants them to be,
that someone deems those specks of spit magnificent.
if stars are lit
it means - there is someone who needs it.
It means - someone wants them to be,
that someone deems those specks of spit magnificent.
Listen!
[1914],
translated by Dorian Rottenberg
translated by Dorian Rottenberg
Mayakovsky poems never leaved the reader with an indifferent impression. It arouses either admiration or indignation. Such a passionate attitude to Mayakovsky is explained by the content of his poetry. Mayakovsky was a recusant rebelling against recognized authorities, a "bawler" by his own definition. But there was another important reason that determined the readers' attitude to Mayakovsky. This is - the language of his poetry. It also caused raptures or was subjected to sharp criticism. Some people considered it to be a courageous revolutionary reform of the language, while the others saw it as the weakening and destruction of the Russian cultural tradition, which was developed in our classical literature of the 19th century.
