Original
"I Taught Myself to Live Simply" by Anna Akhmatova
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.
Remix
I wonder about life’s decay
Not about life’s beauty
On the lake
My superfluous worries come back
Only my cry flares bright
And breaks the silence
And when my palm knocks on the roof
I look at the sky and pray to God
And I tire long before evening
If only I taught myself to live
.jpg)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/Great_sunset_on_lake_foxen_(july_2005,_25).jpg
Lily, I thought that your remix was great and I like the poem you chose for inspiration. I also really like the contrast of the original to the remix. In the original, it starts by saying "I taught myself to live simply and wisely" and in your remix it ends by saying "If only I taught myself how to live." Good job!
ReplyDeleteLily- I love your remake of this poem. I particularly liked the first two lines, "I wonder about life's decay/ Not about life's beauty" because it contrasts to how most people view life. Its also interesting how you put, "If only I taught myself to live." This line evokes a feeling of remorse which I think is another characteristic of many people today.
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