Russian poet. One of the founders of the Acmeist school (which also included Anna Ahkmatova). Lived from 1891 to 1938. Died in a transit camp near Vladivostok. This because he fell out of favor with Joseph Stalin, perhaps because of the following poem: ~~~ We live, but do not feel the land beneath us; Ten steps away and our words cannot be heard,

And when there are just enough people for half a dialogue Then they remember the Kremlin mountaineer.

His fat fingers are slimy, like slugs, And his words are absolute, like grocers’ weights

His cockroach whiskers are laughing, And his boot-tops shine.

He has a rabble of skinny-necked leaders around him, He plays games with the aid of those who are only half human,

Who twitter, who mew, who whimper. He alone bangs and thrusts

Decree after decree, he hammers them out like horseshoes One in the groin for him, in the forehead for him, for him one over the eyes, one in the eyes for him.

When he has an execution, it’s a special treat And the Ossetian chest swells.

(trans. Robert Tracy (?)) ~~~

I rather reccomend Stone, which is some of his earlier work.