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Anna Akhmatova - I Taught Myself To Live Simply

I taught myself to live simply and wisely,
to look at the sky and pray to God,
and to wander long before evening
to tire my superfluous worries.
When the burdocks rustle in the ravine
and the yellow-red rowanberry cluster droops
I compose happy verses
about life's decay, decay and beauty.
I come back. The fluffy cat
licks my palm, purrs so sweetly
and the fire flares bright
on the saw-mill turret by the lake.
Only the cry of a stork landing on the roof
occasionally breaks the silence.
If you knock on my door
I may not even hear.

Added: on July 23rd, 2006 at 6:57 PM | Viewed: 28211 times | Comments (1)


I Taught Myself To Live Simply - Comments and Information

Poet: Anna Akhmatova
Poem: I Taught Myself To Live Simply

Comment 1 of 1, added on July 23rd, 2006 at 6:57 PM.

This is such a beautiful poem. Getting so lost in the simpleness of nature that the intrusion of someone knocking on the door may not be heard...wow.
She has her moments of writing about "decay, decay and life", and then the pleasant interruptions of the birds' sounds pull her to a peaceful realm. All the actions seem balanced and harmonious. "Zen"


dallas from United States

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