Evgeny Aleksandrovich Yevtushenko gained fame not only as a Russian poet, but also as a writer, screenwriter, reader, speaker, publicist and actor.
He did not study well at school, he was later expelled from the institute as well, but that did not prevent him from becoming one of the most famous poets of the 1950-1980s, successfully falling into the wave of sixties poets (a generation of Soviet intelligentsia whose views formed the era of the “thaw” ", Stanilism, the Second World War).
The first book of poetry was published in 1952, and then published several more of their collections. The works of the famous poet were distinguished by a wide variety of genres and an extensive gamut of moods.
In our article you can find the most famous poems by Evgeny Yevtushenko.
10. We are numb before our feelings ...
The poem was written in 1955. During this period, many people still could not express their civic position openly, the fact is that the echoes of the Stalinist repressions prevented this, while some of them lost their relatives and friends.
This moment the poet tried to reflect in his best work: "We are dumb before our feelings, we are used to dying them." People in that era still continued to live in a troubled state, as they were not sure of their future.
But nevertheless, the author in his work tried to express hope that soon everything will change, the people will regain confidence and fortitude.
Interesting fact: Researchers of the poet’s work said that he was never afraid of edification, maximalism and categoricalness, these features were always present in his works. Poem "We are numb before our feelings ..." was no exception.
9. The engine whistle ...
The work was created in 1951. Like other poets, Yevtushenko wrote a lot about love and friendship, a poem "The engine whistle ..." can also be attributed to these topics.
The verse penetrates the sadness that is caused by the separation between two loving people. The author’s breakup is similar to a distant locomotive emitting a piercing hoot.
The lyrical hero of the poem asks him to let go, not to restrain him, since he will not be able to return his former feelings and it is better to disperse peacefully.
Further in the work, it is said that life will continue, but the fate of the heroes will be different. The poet calls for the following: "He who did not know grief, let him not judge love."
Interesting fact: literary scholars believe that the poet’s love lyrics are very subtle, able to perfectly convey all the nuances and all the complexity of the relationship between a man and a woman.
8. Beloved, sleep
The poem can be considered one of the best examples of the poet’s love lyrics, it was written in 1964. Researchers of the work of Yevtushenko found that he dedicated this verse to his second wife - Galina.
The main theme of the verse is a quarrel between lovers, presented in the monologue of a loving man who persuades his beloved to sleep, asks her forgiveness in silence, discusses and philosophizes about the reason for their discord, shares his feelings.
Interesting fact: like many other lyric poems of the author, “Beloved, sleep” It was put on the music written by D. Tukhmanov. The song was performed by Valery Obodzinsky, Tatyana and Sergey Nikitins and other singers.
7. There will always be a female hand ...
One of the best works "There will always be a female hand ..." was created by the author in 1961. The poem can be attributed to love lyrics. It refers to the relationship between a man and a woman, that the beloved always plays an important role in life, it is to her, the man who falls on her shoulder in moments of life's adversity, she will understand and try to dispel his fears.
At the same time, the lyrical hero of the verse cannot remain in the arms of only one lover for a long time, the lines testify to this:
"And you live yourself chewing,
and you need only that hand
that shoulder and those sad eyes ...
You betrayed them in life so many times! ”
But, despite all the emotional throwings of the lyrical hero, her lover forgives him "although resentment and grievance."
6. There are white snows
Poem “White snow is coming” It was written in 1965. This work can be attributed to civilian poetry, in it the poet continues the traditions of Russian poetry, readers find familiar notes that are known from the poems of Pushkin, Yesenin, Blok.
In his poem, Yevtushenko reflects on the transience of human life and the immortality of nature, one generation replaces another, only nature and homeland remain.
The lyrical hero of the work does not believe in miracles, does not expect immortality, but in his soul lives an endless love for the Motherland, its past, the hope that he did not live in vain.
The poem ends with the thought that the immortality of man lies in the eternal life of his homeland, and not in his personal immortality.
Interesting fact: Researchers of the poet’s creativity note that Russia is key in the civic lyrics of Yevtushenko, he often considers the homeland not only through the prism of history. In his understanding, Russia is a symbol of something eternal and unshakable.
5. There are no uninteresting people in the world ...
Composition "There are no uninteresting people in the world ..." was written by Yevtushenko in 1961. Literary scholars attribute it to philosophical lyrics. In it, the poet indulges in discussions about the eternal themes of life, its meaning and the death of man.
The lyrical hero claims that “there are no people uninteresting in the world”, each of them is unique in his own way. The fate of man is mysterious, its mystery is similar to the mysteries of the planets.
The poet reports that each representative of the human race has its own world, which is filled with both the best moments of life and not very much. The lyrical hero of the verse admires the versatility of each person.
Interesting fact: the work is dedicated to the famous journalist and publicist Sergei Preobrazhensky in Soviet times.
4. loss
Poem "A loss" was created by Yevtushenko in 1991. Apparently, the events taking place in the country in those years made a strange frightening impression on the poet, in connection with which he was concerned about the fate of his homeland.
This work is characterized by psychologism and tragedy, the poet wrote it already in adulthood. He compares the situation in the country with a blind old woman, who “spreads her arms out senselessly, with lamentations, searches for her burenka in a meadow”.
The poem ends with an appeal to God, a request to regret and forgive the Russian people. The idea is also expressed about the new birth of the country and its people, that it is harder to do it again than for the first time.
3. Alder Earring
Poem Alder Earring The author wrote in 1975. It can be attributed to the philosophical lyrics of the poet, the lyrical hero discusses the meaning of life in him, makes a comparison of human life with an alder earring.
The work posed a lot of rhetorical questions, the answers to them are given by the lyrical hero himself.
Interesting fact: the work was put to music and became a song for the film "And This Is All About It."
2. Do Russians want war? ..
The work was created by the author in 1961, at that time he often traveled abroad and more than once heard this question from foreigners.
Then it occurred to him to write an answer to it, the poet wanted the poem to be put on music and become a song, and later it happened.
In the work, the author suggests asking a question “Do the Russians want war?” to the people themselves, saying that the country has lost many soldiers, talking about the fact that during the war the Russian people defended not only their freedom, but also the freedom of other countries.
All this, he hoped, would help foreigners understand that despite the fact that the Russian people are strong and able to fight, he does not want war.
Interesting fact: originally GlavPUR wanted to ban the song, considering it a pacifist and demoralizing Russian soldier.
1. This is what happens to me ...
Poem “This is what happens to me ...” It was written in 1957, dedicated to the first wife of the poet - B. Akhmadulina. The romance and marriage of the two poets was a vivid emotional union of two creative people, but, unfortunately, quickly broke up.
The work expresses thoughts that in human life it often happens that random people appear, and true friendship and love disappear.
Interesting fact: the verse was put on music, the song sounded in the famous film "Irony of Fate."