This early cycle of poems indicates strongly the course of a career.

It provides valuable insights into the development and direction that the poet's work was taking.

Also, it allows one to begin to understand how the Russian people revere and appreciate BP.

Their admiration and respect for BP are reflected in the significance and impact that these poems had on them.

The cycle written before the October revolution is balanced out by the inclusion of "The Highest Sickness" which was written and published in 1923.

This addition brings a new dimension and perspective to the overall collection, adding depth and complexity to the themes and ideas explored.

It shows the evolution of the poet's thoughts and feelings over time, and how they were influenced by the historical and social context in which they were writing.

Overall, this early cycle of poems is a fascinating and important piece of work that offers a unique window into the world of Russian poetry and the life and times of BP.

Breathtaking poems of ethereal light and being inhabit this collection from Boris Pasternak.

Osip Mandelstam's words are truly profound when he said, "To read the poems of Pasternak is to get one's throat clear, to fortify one's breathing... I see Pasternak's My Sister--Life as a collection of magnificent exercises in breathing... a cure for tuberculosis."

These poems are truly enchanting, being the product of the early life of Pasternak. The translations by Mark Rudman with Bohdan Boychuk have a clarity that allows Pasternak's "breathing," which I sense as almost a sort of singing voice, to pierce through the boundary between languages.

The result is that the poet's voice is present in its most passionate form, thrilling the reader with vivid images of love and loss. It also foreshadows the changes that would soon engulf the world of his family, friends, and fellow citizens as the Great War would end and bring with it upheavals in the political world of the Russian Empire.

This is a beautiful collection of poems that provides a counterweight to the more familiar Pasternak of Doctor Zhivago and his other later work. It offers a unique glimpse into the poet's early creative spirit and the emotions that shaped his literary journey.

I truly recognize the inherent beauty in the words that have been carefully chosen.

However, when it comes to the majority of the poems, I must admit that I hold no deeper understanding.

I have read a considerable amount of poetry over the years, and this is one of the very first times that I have experienced this particular feeling of being unable to truly "get" the poem.

It has led me to wonder if perhaps the difference lies in the fact that this poem was produced in a foreign language for me.

Maybe the cultural and linguistic nuances are preventing me from fully grasping the essence and meaning that the poet intended to convey.

Despite this, I am still intrigued and motivated to explore further, hoping to find a way to bridge the gap and gain a better understanding of these beautiful works of art.

The original article seems to be rather brief and perhaps lacking in clear connection. Let's expand and rewrite it to make it more coherent and detailed.

The statement "2/10, didn't connect at all" implies a certain degree of dissatisfaction or disappointment. Maybe it refers to a score or an evaluation where the result was very low and there was no meaningful connection or success achieved. It could be in various contexts, such as a test, a project, or a relationship. Without further information, it's difficult to determine the exact nature of the situation. However, it's clear that the outcome was not what was expected or desired. Perhaps more effort, communication, or understanding is needed to improve the situation and establish a better connection. In any case, it serves as a reminder that sometimes things don't work out as planned and we need to learn from our experiences and find ways to move forward.

I possess the bilingual edition of this (an old hardcover). It might not be the work of my favorite poet, yet it holds great significance in my personal growth and development.

This particular volume has accompanied me through various stages of my life. Although the poet may not top my list of favorites, the words within these pages have left an indelible mark.

The bilingual aspect allows me to explore the poetry from different linguistic perspectives, enhancing my understanding and appreciation. It serves as a valuable resource, providing insights into the cultural and literary context in which the poems were written.

Even though it may not be my absolute favorite, this old hardcover has become an important part of my literary journey. It reminds me of the diverse range of voices and styles that exist within the world of poetry, and how each one can contribute to our growth and understanding.

In everything that I endeavor to reach,

I strive for the fundamental essence.

Whether it is in my work,

Or in the realm of love.

I embark on a quest for the past,

Seeking its causes,

Uncovering its roots,

Delving into the very heart of the matter.

I search for

The thread that weaves through life—

The act of thinking,

The depth of feeling,

And the beauty of loving.

If only it were within my power,

I would love to pen

Eight lines

That capture the nature of passion.

About the pursuit and the act of fleeing,

The allure of unlawful loving,

The serendipity of chance encounters,

The touch of elbows and palms.

Establishing the laws that govern,

Unraveling the origins of passion,

I yearn to write

The initials that define passion.

I would construct my poem

Like a magnificent garden:

The rows of lindens

Would glisten and burst into a riot of bloom.

In my poem,

There would be娇艳的 roses,

The fragrance of mint, freshly mowed meadows,

And the rumble of thunder.

Just as Chopin, in his études,

Conjured up

Country houses, graves,

Miracles, and parks.

In the space between games and suffering,

There is an instant of triumph—

The sweet singing

Of a taut bowstring.

**Title: The Importance of Reading**

Reading is an essential activity that offers numerous benefits. It allows us to expand our knowledge, improve our vocabulary, and enhance our cognitive abilities.

When we read, we are exposed to different ideas, cultures, and perspectives, which helps us to become more open-minded and empathetic.

Moreover, reading can be a great source of entertainment and relaxation. It can transport us to different worlds and allow us to escape from the stresses of daily life.

Whether it's a novel, a biography, or a self-help book, there is always something to learn and enjoy from reading.

In addition, reading can also improve our writing skills. By observing the writing styles and techniques of other authors, we can learn how to structure our own sentences and paragraphs more effectively.

Overall, reading is a valuable activity that should be encouraged and cultivated from an early age. It can have a profound impact on our lives and help us to become better individuals.

The translation of 1991 manages to replicate with enviable clarity the style of Google Translator.

It is truly remarkable how accurately it captures the essence and nuances of the original text.

The attention to detail and the ability to convey the meaning precisely is truly praiseworthy.

Thanks, Alfar, for creating a bilingual edition.

This not only allows for a better understanding of the text in both languages but also serves as a valuable resource for language learners and enthusiasts.

The effort put into this translation is evident, and it is sure to be appreciated by many.

Overall, it is a great achievement that showcases the power and potential of translation in bridging cultural and linguistic gaps.

This is an interesting read.

However, the English translator was overly faithful in simply preserving what was literally stated in the original text.

Instead of focusing on maintaining the rhythm and rhyme, which are crucial elements of poetry.

As a result, the translated work turned out to be awful when considered as poetry.

The translator's approach seemed to sacrifice the essence and beauty of poetry for the sake of a literal translation.

This might have disappointed those who were expecting a more poetic and engaging rendition.

It is important to note that when translating poetry, one should strive to capture not only the meaning but also the artistic qualities that make the original work so captivating.

Perhaps a more creative and flexible translation method could have been employed to better convey the spirit of the original poetry.

Overall, while the content might have been interesting, the lack of attention to rhythm and rhyme in the translation detracted from its value as a piece of poetry.

I have a deep affection for Pasternak's poetry. His early works are often wild and unconstrained, or at least they seem that way to me! However, there are two poems that I truly love: "English Lessons" and "Storm, an Endless Instant." They are simply beautiful.

I also took a look at the versions of these poems translated by other translators, which was a rather shocking experience. Among them, Rudman and Boychuk seem to stand out. They manage to bring out the elegance and power of Pasternak as a poet. Their translations capture the essence of his words and convey the emotions and imagery in a way that is both faithful and engaging.

It is interesting to see how different translators approach the task of translating Pasternak's poetry. Each one brings their own perspective and style, resulting in translations that are unique yet still manage to capture the spirit of the original works. Overall, I am glad to have discovered Pasternak's poetry and to have explored the different translations available. It has been a fascinating journey.

Sister: A Genteel Soul with a Love for Diverse Environments

The sister is a woman of genteel nature. She has a profound love for the animated life in the town, where the hustle and bustle of people going about their daily activities fascinates her. The vibrant energy of the urban setting, with its shops, cafes, and theaters, provides her with a constant source of inspiration and entertainment.

In addition to the town, she also adores the tranquility of the dacha. Surrounded by nature, she can enjoy the peace and quiet, away from the chaos of the city. The beautiful gardens, the chirping of birds, and the gentle breeze all contribute to her sense of relaxation and well-being.

Furthermore, the sister has a special affinity for the vast steppe. The wide-open spaces, the endless horizons, and the wild beauty of the landscape speak to her soul. She feels a sense of freedom and liberation when she is on the steppe, as if all her worries and cares have melted away.

However, despite her love for these different environments, the sister also suffers from a malady. She has an impressionistic response to the revolution. The upheaval and change that come with the revolution deeply affect her, and she finds it difficult to come to terms with the new reality. Her genteel nature and her love for the old ways make it hard for her to adapt to the radical transformation that is taking place around her.

A rather well-known book of poems, which upon closer inspection seemed rather weak to me. Written literally at the request of his beloved Elena Vinograd, who accused Boris of "the incomprehensibility of his poems", this collection seems to be deliberately reduced to sentimental emotionalism and formal simplicity.

But it was written in a period when Pasternak himself was closer to the cubist, inventive and intense style. Because of this, the impression of the collection is strongly blurred. Although there is enough sincerity in the poems, it is the sincerity of feeling, not the sincerity of the poetic expression itself. Strong feelings on their own are not what makes Pasternak great, perhaps the greatest Russian poet of the 20th century.

Perhaps for readers and colleagues who were tired of the convoluted avant-gardism that had exhausted itself by the age of 22, this "new sincerity" was like a necessary medicine. A century later, I would rate its influence as palliative. It seems that the further Russian poetry moved away from the unconditional height taken in the Silver Age, the lower its average level dropped (excluding the emigration, which was growing in its own hothouse). However, now it will be more interesting for me to read the lyrics of Mandelstam and Tsvetaeva from the early twenties: I will compare whether "Sestra" had a negative influence on them or, on the contrary, helped them break free from previous limitations.

Getting to know Pasternak more closely, I thought about what for me constitutes the essence of poetry and why in this book of his there seemed to be too little of it for me. My reasoning was as follows: poetry, first of all, is magic, in the gnoseological sense. It transmits someone's subjective experience through the extremely precise fixation of states bordering on reality. And good poetry itself draws you into this border state.

As the proximity in the name of the legendary computer saga indicates: Heroes of Might and Magic, for good Magic, Strength is necessary. It seems to me that the direct Strength of poetry is its main quality, by which it makes sense to evaluate it.

Pasternak's previous collection, "Over the Barriers", impressed me much more strongly. There are complex and rather convoluted passages there, but there are also passages of absolutely magnetic force, collected or, rather, reduced with a terrible and palpable energy. This is the real early Pasternak: the charming cubist, whose lines hum, whose word creations are twisted into stone forms, like, to use the language of my beloved Ben Liviitsa, diluvial strata.

The silent, drunk, dull wheeze

The mournful howl and the stomping of boots,

And the colliding boulders

The creaking of their crushing.

I drink the bitterness of tuberoses, the bitterness of the autumn heavens

And in them the burning jet of your betrayals.

I drink the bitterness of evenings, nights and human gatherings,

The raw bitterness of the weeping stanza I drink.

This is strong! Further, I know, Pasternak will still have natural simplicity and strength, but here, in the early collection, such an approach looks like an oversimplification. With the exception of a couple of very strong ideas that he uses in the poems "How with Them", and especially in the poem "Thunderstorm, the Momentary Forever" - there the fourth rhyme stretched over four lines, first imitating flashes of lightning, and then the thunderclaps following in their wake. To come up with this and embody it with a Pushkinian shine:

And then summer said goodbye - -

With a semicircle. Having taken off - - his hat,

A hundred blinding photo - - graphs

At night he took down for memory - - thunder.

The hand of the syren felt. - - In this

Time he, having thrown on - - a raincoat

Of lightning, with them - - ran across the field

To illuminate the governor's - - house.

ABCD, ABCD - this is very skillful poetry, and excellent craftsmanship that simply deserves applause.

But overall, regarding the collection: it is weak, pale and banal. And yet I just showed that you can do otherwise. Well, at least he wrote a lot more later, I know for sure that there are very strong poems in the thirties, we'll get there. I'm reading all of Pasternak now, let's see where the next collections will lead.