Yunna Morits
Encyclopedia
Yunna Morits , is a Soviet and Russia
n artist of many talents primarily known as a poet, was born in Kiev
, USSR (present day Ukraine
) in a Jewish family. Her father Pinchas Moritz, was imprisoned under Stalin, she suffered from tuberculosis in her childhood, and spent years of hardship in the Urals during WWII. In the 1950s, she went to study in Moscow
, where she was briefly expelled from college for her poems' critical stance and alienation from the Soviet system. In 1961, she became widely known for her collection about the Far North, The Cap of Desire, based on her journey aboard an Arctic icebreaker, and was prominent among the "60s generation" of popular and subversive Soviet poets, though always keeping apart from her publicity-seeking fellows like Yevgeny Yevtushenko or Bella Akhmadulina. Together with Joseph Brodsky
, she was among the few young poets favored by Anna Akhmatova
.
Since 1960s, she also became known for her poetic translations into Russian from many languages (these translations, commissioned by Soviet publishing houses, often employed an intermediary literal translator and a poet). She rendered into Russian verse such poets as Moisei Toif
, Constantine Cavafy and Federico García Lorca
. Since 1970, after the publication of The Vine, she was regarded "as one of the finest women poets in Russia today", in the words of American critic Daniel Weissbort. In later years, she attracted many young readers with her children poetry, some of which, like her adult work, became known to mass audience through guitar singers. Her other published work includes short stories, op-eds and, most recently, graphics. Her recent poetry, scarcely published in English, conveys the suffering, wrath and moral resistance of human beings caught in the tragedy of Russia's collapse.
You get home, there's a casino or a Pizza Hut.
Each yard has its President and Vice-.
Muffled in the cotton-wool of privatisation, that
mounted soldier-woman.
The guarded Member drinks Dutch beer from a can,
wrapping his bathrobe round him in Mayoral and
Perfectly fashion,
At this time, the firm's fax informs him,
Burma is trading four trainloads of toilet paper
for a submarine. Bloody flux in the State Bank,
the money's run out, the puppy has croaked, the
Treasurer is not feeling so good.
"Damned Demo-Craps, kiss your Mother's ass!"
the line lets rip, not knowing how to take its place
in the grave in a civilised manner.
Clio, personally I find aid does not demean me,
but bear in mind it doesn't reach me, – enough thieving,
all the good-looking guys, geniuses, all the brains are leaving;
only the talentless and fools remain behind, like me.
1991 (trans. Daniel Weissbort and Leona Medlin)
She has been founding member of several liberal organizations of artistic intelligentia, including the Russian section of International PEN
. She is a member of Russian PEN Executive Committee and its Human Rights Commission. She has been awarded several prestigious prizes, including Andrey Sakharov Prize for Civic Courage.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n artist of many talents primarily known as a poet, was born in Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, USSR (present day Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
) in a Jewish family. Her father Pinchas Moritz, was imprisoned under Stalin, she suffered from tuberculosis in her childhood, and spent years of hardship in the Urals during WWII. In the 1950s, she went to study in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, where she was briefly expelled from college for her poems' critical stance and alienation from the Soviet system. In 1961, she became widely known for her collection about the Far North, The Cap of Desire, based on her journey aboard an Arctic icebreaker, and was prominent among the "60s generation" of popular and subversive Soviet poets, though always keeping apart from her publicity-seeking fellows like Yevgeny Yevtushenko or Bella Akhmadulina. Together with Joseph Brodsky
Joseph Brodsky
Iosif Aleksandrovich Brodsky , was a Russian poet and essayist.In 1964, 23-year-old Brodsky was arrested and charged with the crime of "social parasitism" He was expelled from the Soviet Union in 1972 and settled in America with the help of W. H. Auden and other supporters...
, she was among the few young poets favored by Anna Akhmatova
Anna Akhmatova
Anna Andreyevna Gorenko , better known by the pen name Anna Akhmatova , was a Russian and Soviet modernist poet, one of the most acclaimed writers in the Russian canon.Harrington p11...
.
Since 1960s, she also became known for her poetic translations into Russian from many languages (these translations, commissioned by Soviet publishing houses, often employed an intermediary literal translator and a poet). She rendered into Russian verse such poets as Moisei Toif
Teif, Moisei Solomonovich
Teif, Moisei Solomonovich was a prominent Yiddish Soviet poet born in Minsk, Belarus. He died in Moscow on December 23, 1966, being a member of the editorial board of one of the few Soviet Yiddish magazines "Sovetish Heimland" [Soviet Homeland].Books :# Teif, Moishe. Proletarke, shvester mayne:...
, Constantine Cavafy and Federico García Lorca
Federico García Lorca
Federico del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús García Lorca was a Spanish poet, dramatist and theatre director. García Lorca achieved international recognition as an emblematic member of the Generation of '27. He is believed to be one of thousands who were summarily shot by anti-communist death squads...
. Since 1970, after the publication of The Vine, she was regarded "as one of the finest women poets in Russia today", in the words of American critic Daniel Weissbort. In later years, she attracted many young readers with her children poetry, some of which, like her adult work, became known to mass audience through guitar singers. Her other published work includes short stories, op-eds and, most recently, graphics. Her recent poetry, scarcely published in English, conveys the suffering, wrath and moral resistance of human beings caught in the tragedy of Russia's collapse.
You get home, there's a casino or a Pizza Hut.
Each yard has its President and Vice-.
Muffled in the cotton-wool of privatisation, that
mounted soldier-woman.
The guarded Member drinks Dutch beer from a can,
wrapping his bathrobe round him in Mayoral and
Perfectly fashion,
At this time, the firm's fax informs him,
Burma is trading four trainloads of toilet paper
for a submarine. Bloody flux in the State Bank,
the money's run out, the puppy has croaked, the
Treasurer is not feeling so good.
"Damned Demo-Craps, kiss your Mother's ass!"
the line lets rip, not knowing how to take its place
in the grave in a civilised manner.
Clio, personally I find aid does not demean me,
but bear in mind it doesn't reach me, – enough thieving,
all the good-looking guys, geniuses, all the brains are leaving;
only the talentless and fools remain behind, like me.
1991 (trans. Daniel Weissbort and Leona Medlin)
She has been founding member of several liberal organizations of artistic intelligentia, including the Russian section of International PEN
International PEN
PEN International , the worldwide association of writers, was founded in London in 1921 to promote friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere....
. She is a member of Russian PEN Executive Committee and its Human Rights Commission. She has been awarded several prestigious prizes, including Andrey Sakharov Prize for Civic Courage.
External links
- http://www.arlindo-correia.com/040804.html
- http://www.morits.owl.ru/
- http://morits.ru/