In Memory: Anna Akhmatova

Today is Wednesday, 23 June 2010.

Tonight is Midsummer Night's Eve.

Today is the birthdate in 1889 of Anna Akhmatova, as great a Russian poet who ever was. She died on 5 March 1966: ironically, the 13th anniversary of the death of Stalin.

A useful summary of her career will be found on today's The Writer's Almanac (http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/). Suffice it to say that she was yet another victim of the cruel forces unleashed by the defeat of Bolshevism and the victory of Stalin. Perhaps her greatest poem is "Requiem", concerning the millions murdered by Stalin and his faction in the process of wiping out most of the truly committed Bolsheviks and the consolidation of Stalin's hegemony.

"Requiem" may be found at:
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/requiem/
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I'll comment tomorrow on the grave insubordination and mindless egotism of Gen. Stanley McChrystal; today belongs to Akhmatova. Suffice it to say, the column will be titled, "Break McChrystal's Balls".