Acmeist poetry is represented not only by the lyrics of Akhmatova and Gumilyov, but also by beautiful poems by Sergei Gorodetsky, who became one of the founders of the “Poets Workshop”.
History of creation
This poem was included in the collection of the same name in 1914, where the poet talked about life and work. By that time, he left the circle of symbolists and became a full member of the Acmeist association, however, his work still left an imprint of symbolism, and this work is confirmation of this, because it is based on an image-symbol.
The work reflects the life-affirming idea of the entire collection: the author is full of strength and ambition to develop his gift and move on.
Genre, direction, size
Size is a trochee, a genre is a lyrical poem.
The course within which the poet positioned himself in this period of time is called acmeism. Its founders sought to simplify poetry and use the single meaning of the word, returning to the material-objective world from those mystical distances into which the Symbolists carried themselves. But in this work, the author’s nostalgia in the image of the symbol is obvious, and he turns to the mythological meaning of the staff, and not just praises the stick for support in movement. Therefore, it is appropriate to say that this poem is more reminiscent of the symbolist lyrics than the acmeist.
Images and Symbols
The staff represents power, dignity, magical power, travel, pilgrimage. Symbol of the sun and the world axis. The staff is an attribute of all Good Shepherds.
Speaking of this symbol, the poet praises his poetic talent, which gives him the strength to move forward. In sad days, he helps the author to pull himself together, because talent is always faithful to its bearer. The author also talks about the staff’s habit of labor, which again means a parallel with creativity.
Gorodetsky’s poetry is characterized by an appeal to folklore, therefore he endows the poet with magical attributes, like an ancient priest of a pagan cult who speaks the same language with nature. That is why the author calls his staff "blooming", emphasizing his connection with the outside world.
Themes and mood
The theme of creativity is the main one in the poem. The author says that creativity helps him live, is his life support.
The motive of the road is guessed in lines. The hero is sent "to the light", and it is the staff that leads him, which means that it really is a magical attribute.
The poem gives the reader a festive and high spirits, which is filled with the life force of the creator.
Idea
The meaning of the poem is the need for support, which is the guideline of a person in his life. She does not allow to fall and collapse, she consoles in rainy days. The hero, apparently, found it in creativity and unity with nature, but in the text the staff is intentionally impersonal, and the reader does not know what is hidden under it. So, each of us must find his own flowering staff.
The author also determined the qualities of such a universal guideline - it should be a faithful and used to work staff, only then it can be fully relied on.
Pot, do not cook!
Glass of water
