Anatoly Kudryavitsky



Anatoly Kudryavitsky (born 17 August 1954) is a Russian/Irish poet, novelist, translator. He writes mainly in English and Russian.

Shadow of Time (2005)
people die.
 * When you kill wolves

after we learn what we'll do: that is the question.
 * What shall we do

is broadening.
 * Europe is shrinking, but America

the smaller the occupants.
 * The bigger the house,


 * Polluters of void.

a woman of eighty said.
 * "Women don't survive here,"

to watch eternity breaking up into human splinters.
 * ...nothing else left but

the crime of the century.
 * The century has started with


 * Leviathan learning to overcome time

how skilfully it kills!
 * The knack of living —

dance in flame not every time and not every time literally.
 * ...letters of a burning book

the world is divided into before and after.
 * Once a century

a wrong life,' they said not too apologetically. 'Will you begin anew?'
 * 'Sorry, we gave you


 * Caliban fights the Taliban

Morning at Mount Ring (2007)
blossoming in the pond, water-lilies and stars
 * summer night —

behaviour on the streets — the wind feels it all over
 * a leaflet about

I yearn for the place from where it blows
 * autumn wind...

their memories of the sun
 * bamboo stems —

a child treads upon broken bits of seashells
 * icy beach

mussel shells slightly open
 * murmuring surge

in the mizzling rain... a long, long dream
 * hazel catkins

a cormorant sits on the throne of winds
 * autumn storm

barges transport coal in both directions
 * river mist

a cat rubs its shadow against fishermen's legs
 * autumn dusk