Alma mater
Alma mater
The Poet of the Silver Century
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Sergey Gorodetsky was born on the 5th of January 1884 in St.-Petrsburg. He was a poet, interpriter,play-writer. One of his first books of poety was called “Aurora Borealis”. Our magazine has the same name. It wasn’t made by chance.
Sergey Gorodetsky had been studying in the 6th gimnasium in St.-Petrsburg. Now our school occupies the same building.
It’s a pity that there are far memories about that period. In his autobiography he wpote: “When I was a boy I believed in God. I dreamed to be a Saint. But three years later my beliefe was shaken when. I knew that my theacher of Law, father Andrew Livashov had stoped being a religious man and was anounced as a madman.”
In 1902 Sergey G. entered the St.-Petrsburg’s university on the history-phylological faculty. He was a good student, but he wanted to have all intertainments at once. So he failed his last exam.
In August 1907 Sergey Gorodetsky was arrested as a revolushionary and stayed in a political prison “Crosses”.
There he wrote his firs verses called “Prison Verses”. In 1908 he married Bel-Kon-Lubomirskaya. She was a writer, too.
Sergey Gorodetsky’s first expirience in poetry was much influenced by A.A.Block, who was one of his first friends. After two years of unsuccessful attempts to publish his poems in the magazines of St.-Petrsburg his fate changed in one night. In January, 1906 he was reading his poems in a litetaty society, and there happend to be Valery Yakovlevich Bryusov. He was charmed by the young poet. Bryusov published his poems in the magazine “The Scates”, then introduced Gorodetsky to the famous writers of that time. Poet Shrshenevich wrote about Gorodetsky: “Moody as he was, Gorodetsky had a very unusual poetical fate. He never behaved property.”
His first literary success was his book “Jar”, published in December, 1906. It was in great demand with the young people. Marienhof recalled: “We had a New Year party inthe House of Print. Yesenin was asked to sing satirical literary songs(chastushki), Vasiliy Kamensky was eager to play the accordion. There were chastushki about Block, Bpyusov, Mayakovski and Gorodetsky: “I’ve made a whustle from a walnut, songs by Gorodetsky are the brightest and clearest ones.” Poetical images of Gorodetsky are full of vigor and joy “ they embody beuty and power of nature( his poetical cycle “Tar”, “Jarila”, “valkalanda” etc.).
His colourfull, bright and a bit unreal image of Ancient Russia is much alike paintings by Kustodiev and Vasnetsov. The title of his book collected poems took its origin from his poetical cycle “Jar”, including poems “Jarila’s Birth”, “Jarila is being glorified”, “Bariba is being looked for”, “Meeting of Jarila and Perun”, “Saying Goodbye”, “Perun”, “Stribog”, “Sea-Slab”.
In 1907 the book of collected poems “Perun” was published, in 1908 - “Wild will”. The books, influenced by N.A.Nekrasov and K.D.Balmont. After publishing those books, Gorodetsky began looking for the way back tj the literary activity. He was attracted with “mystical anarchism”, “creation of myths”, ”creation of idols” and he couldn’t choose anything for his writing work. Bryusilov commented on it as following: “ He is in love with life and with his mistakes as if he is 17... Some poets are estimated by their achievements, others - by their sincerety in making errors.”
Sergey Gorodetsky died in June, 1967 when he was more than 83. He wrote till his last day, using the word as did at the beginning of his literary career - the thing typical for the great master he was.
Tatiana Yakunina,11-b
