Lots of updates: Women Poets of Russia's Silver Age and More

A new year has arrived, bringing with it the upcoming hundredth anniversary of the two momentous Russian Revolutions of 1917. Regardless of one's attitude towards the Soviet State which eventually sprung out of these socio-political development, some of the more remarkable and unique qualities of the poetic, literary, and broader artistic communities of  the early 20th century Russia (and of the early Communist state) had to do with their relative gender equality, at least in contrast with other Modernist movements burgeoning at that time in Europe and elsewhere. To commemorate this history and the art produced throughout its course, we are updating our site with dozens of poems by female Russian Modernists, some legendary and others obscure. Among these is poetry by the great Russian original Marina Tsvetayeva, including some of her famous early lyrics as well as excerpts from a longer poem "Separation" dedicated to her husband Sergey Efron and written on the eve of Tsvetayeva's immigration to the West in the early 1920's. While scouting through our new Tsvetayeva section, you can also check out a freshly translated excerpt from the poet's striking memoirs. More translated sections of these recollections are on the way! Another of today's grandest site updates consists of another section dedicated to the work of Elena Guro, an amazing female Poet and illustrator who is popularly classified as the sole major female "cubo-futurist" poet. Indeed, her works are already frequently included in Russian-language anthologies of that revolutionary avant-garde artistic movement alongside the likes of Vladimir Mayakovsky and Velimir Khlebnikov (whose  selected works in our original translation are also coming to the site in 2017!). Unfortunately, Guro's poetry has faced much neglect on the part of major Russian poetry anthologists due to the supposed thematic and formal obscurity of the poet's mindbogglingly diverse and innovative creative oeuvre. On top of that, Guro's far too early youthful death from illness contributed to the travesty of her being nearly written out of the mainstream canon of Russia's 20th century literary history. This year we begin doing our part, however small, in correcting this glaring historical error. Guro's brilliance deserves her a place at the very peak of Russia's poetic pantheon and alongside both female icons like Tsvetayeva and Akhmatova and other globally-famous Silver Age figureheads like Mayakovsky and Blok (both of whom were major fans and champions of Guro's poetry). Lastly, after checking out our fresh translations of poetry by Guro and Tsvetayeva located within these poets' sections, don't be too quick to sign off! Stick around for a few minutes longer to read the unforgettable and haunting poem "The Wolf" by the fiery Imaginist Nadejda Volpin (located in her own respective new section of the site). Volpin is frequently remembered as a close confidante and lover of the great Sergey Esenin. Yet, as more and more of her own poetry becomes uncovered, published, and translated, Volpin is increasingly revealed as a poet of no lesser talent, originality, or insight than the famed singer of Russia's open fields and clamorous cheap bar-rooms.

Finally, we appeal to all of our readers to stay tuned for WEEKLY UPDATES IN 2017 as we commit ourselves to expanding our site into becoming THE widely accessible 21st century resource for English-based enjoyment and study of Russian Modernist poetry! And do shoot a message to alekseycalvin@berkeley.edu if you have any specific questions, suggestions, tips, rare texts, comments, collaboration ideas, if you yearn for frequent updates, or simply wish to get in touch!