Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, RUSSIA, by ALEXANDER (ALEKSANDR) ALEXANDROVICH BLOK



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RUSSIA, by             Poem Explanation         Poet's Biography
First Line: To sin, unshamed, to lose, unthinking
Last Line: Are you, my russia, even so.
Subject(s): Russia; Soviet Union; Russians


To sin, unshamed, to lose, unthinking,
The count of careless nights and days,
And then, while the head aches with drinking,
Steal to God's house, with eyes that glaze;

Thrice to bow down to earth, and seven
Times cross oneself beside the door,
With the hot brow, in hope of heaven,
Touching the spittle-covered floor;

With a brass farthing's gift dismissing
The offering, the holy Name
To mutter with loose lips, in kissing
The ancient, kiss-worn icon-frame;

And coming home, then, to be tricking
Some wretch out of the same small coin,
And with an angry hiccup, kicking
A lean cur in his trembling groin;

And where the icon's flame is quaking
Drink tea, and reckon loss and gain,
From the fat chest of drawers taking
The coupons wet with spittle-stain;

And sunk in feather-beds to smother
In slumber, such as bears may know,
Dearer to me than every other
Are you, my Russia, even so.





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