“Offensive” Nikolai Gumilyov

That country that could have been paradise
Became a lair of fire.
We are approaching the fourth day,
We didn't eat for four days.

But there is no need for earthly food
In this terrible and bright hour,
Because the Lord's word
It nourishes us better than bread.

And blood-drenched weeks
Dazzling and light.
Shrapnel is exploding above me,
Blades fly faster than birds.

Like thunder hammers
Or the waves of angry seas,
Golden heart of Russia
Beats rhythmically in my chest.

And it’s so sweet to dress Victory,
Like a girl in pearls,
Following a trail of smoke
Retreating enemy.

Analysis of Gumilyov's poem "Offensive"

Nikolai Gumilev received the news of the beginning of the First World War with great patriotism and in 1914 he volunteered for the army. At 28 years old, the poet still looked at life through rose-colored glasses and believed that participation in a military campaign would be somewhat reminiscent of his beloved travels to distant and unexplored countries. However, Gumilyov was in for severe disappointment, and very soon he reconsidered his views not only on military operations, but also on such a concept as a soldier’s duty, and also realized that his homeland was really in danger. A few weeks after arriving at the front, Gumilyov writes the poem “Offensive,” the first lines of which are filled with sincere regret: “The country that could have been a paradise has become a den of fire.” The poet is truly shocked not only by the scale of hostilities, but also by the fact that dozens of people die before his eyes every day. He could be among them at any moment, and this feeling excites Gumilyov’s blood, filling his poems with bravado.

“We are approaching the fourth day, we have not eaten for four days,” the author notes with secret pride, pointing out that for him personally, what is much more important is not material wealth, but spiritual food. This is faith in the Lord and in victory, without which, according to Gumilyov, there is nothing to do at the front. However, the poet also has his own compelling argument against death, which he treats with feigned disdain. “I, the bearer of great thought, cannot, cannot die,” declares Gumilyov. At the same time, the poet emphasizes that the “golden heart of Russia” beats in his chest. Those. he considers himself one of the most worthy bearers of the culture and traditions of the Russian people. The most amazing thing is that this kind of amulet really protects the poet from stray bullets and shrapnel. During the two years he spent at the front, the poet became a victim only twice. severe cold without receiving a single combat wound. But he turned into a real patriot of his country, who was “so sweet to dress Victory like a girl in pearls.” However, it should be noted that very soon Gumilev’s romantic impulse dried up, and in 1917 he secured a place for himself in the Russian expeditionary force, which was based in Paris. The French capital, familiar to the poet from a young age, still shone, and Gumilyov very soon merged with the motley world of writers and artists, coming to his senses only in 1918, when he received a letter from Akhmatova demanding a divorce.

1916: First comes World War, the population is drowning in loyal feelings, poets are challenging the right to more accurately express the spirit of the era than others. Vladimir Averin remembers the great Russian poets of the early 20th century.

Nikolai Stepanovich Gumilev - poet of the Silver Age, creator of the school of Acmeism, translator, literary critic. Born on April 3, 1886 in Kronstadt into a noble family of a ship's doctor.

The future poet wrote his first quatrain about “beautiful Niagara” at the age of 6. A year before graduating from high school, at the expense of his parents, he published his first book of poems, “The Way of the Conquistadors.” This collection was awarded a separate review by Valery Bryusov.

After 1906 and until the beginning of the World War, he traveled a lot. Between trips he shot with Maximilian Voloshin, published collections of poems and created the association “Poets Workshop”.

In August 1914, Nikolai Gumilyov enlisted in the army as a volunteer. For courage in battles he receives the St. George Cross of the third and fourth degree.
On August 3, 1921, Gumilyov was arrested by the Cheka. He and 56 other people convicted by the troika were shot on the night of August 26. The places of execution and burial are still unknown.

In 1916, Nikolai Gumilyov published a collection of poems, “Quiver,” which included poems on a military theme.

"Worker"

He stands before a red-hot forge,
A short old man.
A calm look seems submissive
From the blinking of reddish eyelids.

All his comrades fell asleep,
He's the only one still awake:
He's all busy casting a bullet,
What will separate me from the earth.

He finished and his eyes brightened.
Coming back. The moon is shining.
At home waiting for him in a big bed
Sleepy and warm wife.

The bullet he cast will whistle
Above the gray, foaming Dvina,
The bullet he cast will be found
My chest, she came for me.

I'll fall, I'll be bored to death,
I will see the past in reality,
The blood will flow like a spring into the dry,
Dusty and crumpled grass.

And the Lord will reward me in full measure
For my short and bitter life.
I did this in a light gray blouse
A short old man.

"Offensive"

That country that could have been paradise
Became a lair of fire
We are approaching the fourth day,
We didn't eat for four days.

But there is no need for earthly food
In this terrible and bright hour,
Because the Lord's word
It nourishes us better than bread.

And blood-drenched weeks
Dazzling and light
Shrapnel is exploding above me,
Blades fly faster than birds.

Like thunder hammers
Or the waters of angry seas,
Golden Heart of Russia
Beats rhythmically in my chest.

And it’s so sweet to dress Victory,
Like a girl in pearls,
Following a trail of smoke
Retreating enemy.

"Trees"

I know it's for the trees, not for us
Given the greatness of a perfect life,
On the gentle earth, sister to the stars,
We are in a foreign land, and they are in their homeland.

Deep autumn in empty fields
Copper-red sunsets, sunrises
Amber colors teach them -
Free, green peoples.

There are Moses among the oak trees,
Mary between the palm trees... Their souls, right,
They send a quiet call to each other
With water flowing in the immeasurable darkness.

And in the depths of the earth, sharpening a diamond,
Crushing granite, the keys are babbling soon,
The keys sing, shout - where the elm is broken,
Where the sycamore tree is covered in leaves.

Oh, if only I could find a country,
In which I could not cry and sing,
Silently rising to the heights
Countless millennia!

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Analysis of Nikolai Gumilyov’s poem “Offensive”

Nikolai Gumilev received the news of the beginning of the First World War with great patriotism and in 1914 he volunteered for the army. At 28 years old, the poet still looked at life through rose-colored glasses and believed that participation in a military campaign would be somewhat reminiscent of his beloved travels to distant and unexplored countries. However, Gumilyov was in for severe disappointment, and very soon he reconsidered his views not only on military operations, but also on such a concept as a soldier’s duty, and also realized that his homeland was really in danger. A few weeks after arriving at the front, Gumilyov writes the poem “Offensive,” the first lines of which are filled with sincere regret: “The country that could have been a paradise has become a den of fire.” The poet is truly shocked not only by the scale of hostilities, but also by the fact that dozens of people die before his eyes every day. He could be among them at any moment, and this feeling excites Gumilyov’s blood, filling his poems with bravado.

“We are approaching the fourth day, we have not eaten for four days,” the author notes with secret pride, pointing out that for him personally, what is much more important is not material wealth, but spiritual food. This is faith in the Lord and in victory, without which, according to Gumilyov, there is nothing to do at the front. However, the poet also has his own compelling argument against death, which he treats with feigned disdain. “I, the bearer of great thought, cannot, cannot die,” Gumilyov declares. At the same time, the poet emphasizes that the “golden heart of Russia” beats in his chest. Those. he considers himself one of the most worthy bearers of the culture and traditions of the Russian people. The most amazing thing is that this kind of amulet really protects the poet from stray bullets and shrapnel. During the two years he spent at the front, the poet fell victim to severe colds only twice, without receiving a single combat wound. But he turned into a real patriot of his country, who was “so sweet to dress Victory like a girl in pearls.” However, it should be noted that very soon Gumilev’s romantic impulse dried up, and in 1917 he secured a place for himself in the Russian expeditionary force, which was based in Paris. The French capital, familiar to the poet from a young age, still shone, and Gumilyov very soon merged with the motley world of writers and artists, coming to his senses only in 1918, when he received a letter from Akhmatova demanding a divorce.