262-263, Vsevolod Nekrasov

It’s hard to even

Say which is worse

Managing

In the temple

Holy-fooling

In the main police directorate

Investigating everything

There is out there

Or believing in everything

There is in here

And the private ones

Have their own rights

As the public ones

have their own rights

Only nobody here is too fond

Of the very word

Right

Is it worth

Even wasting the words

On any old idiot

So many idiots

Words

Any idiot

Is not such an idiot

But when it is to his benefit*

Then he’s an idiot*

And otherwise

Even an idiot can have fun

_________________________

*rather

That’s what he thinks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W99zIDW1hqk

Vsevolod, Seva, Nekrasov was a minimalist poet from russia in the 1950’s. He lived in moscow for the entirety of his life. He was part of the underground art scene called the Lianozovo movement/group. He was an anti socialist who was published very little because of his outspoken messages. He was labeled as an experimental artist at the start of his career.

This poem is talking about the unjust power of the state he was in (Moscow in post cold war times) and the differences in classes and ends discussing the troubles of feeling a fool, being a fool, and both of these things put together. The very last few lines can be related to anyone, and are my favorite lines in the poem. The asterisk section shows how he’s debated the subject in his head, and how he applies it to others.

Vsevolod skillfully avoids imagery and cuts straight to the points of the poem. This simplicity is a key mark of modern minimalistic poetry. This type of poetry finds the beauty in the simple and straightforward statements of life, always elegantly said in a way few understand for what is is, and many feel for what it says.

The tone of this poem, to me at least, can be described as simply reflective. There is obviously a small amount of disdain held for the people in the dream who have more or judge more. The overall tone however is simply reflective, he is looking back on where he is and how he stands.

He obviously is dealing with oppression or the feeling thereof. He knows he is one who judges, but he is not told to and does not voice his so loudly. He finds a problem in those who do.

I like the lack of rhythm. It keeps me on my toes as I read it. His flitting back and forth towards the end gives you the understanding that he is showing the multiple meanings. These meanings are up for interpretation. I love his use of multiple meanings. I love it, I like how he calls himself a fool and all others too.