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XLIV. The tale about Sergey Yesenin

In his consciousness flashed:

– someone has left independently, but is mysterious,

– someone independently, but without any mysteriousness,

– someone not independently, but naturally: hunger, diseases, need, humiliation.

It were more or less distinct nonconformists. People from iron. But and iron is tired.

Generally, nonconformism degree not so is also essential. Any writer -albeit in micro extent, but - the non-conformist.

Another is essential - the existence of the certificate on loyalty.

The one, who was personally familiar, make a surety - as "along the chain" - for another, for following, who personally not the acquaintance.

Everyone gets a piece of the certificate on loyalty. And together with this certificate - the right to live. At any rate - to live, but not to survive.

The filigree Gogol's loyalty with residence of a third of life in Rome and other edges of Western Europe - will not work: writers are necessary for the solution of specific objectives here and now. Of problems of development of economy, science and technology.

And Sergey Yesenin, who was been mobilized and then employed as the hospital attendant (orderly) in military and sanitary train, organised by the Tsarskoye Selo's unhabitants, allegedly, in 1916 was represented to the Queen.

But familiarity 1916, if it really took place in the court hospital, in 1923, not just useless, it is dangerous. New times, new people... About the acquaintance of 1916, to forget, and do not remember. But they remember of it. It is necessary to interprete-reinterpret. Oh! He -"deserter"! "The first in the country".

With a certificate in 1923 - it is difficult. To sent letter for most important person?? Have not developed tradition, and he has already disorder. To address the second - it isn't appropriate yet, his situation hasn't got stronger yet. To whom to call, to whom to write, with whom to try to obtain a meeting?

But after all, a certificate of loyalty is not so important. It is important - "emigrant" or not. Non-conformist (to a greater or lesser extent, up to a certain limit, albeit without a certificate of loyalty) - but NOT an emigrant - during the period and after the survival stage is printed, is publishing, even if only minimally.

The idea of doing fancy twists. Isadora... Passion... Feelings... to Go with her abroad long-term? To try for living abroad upon across the most dangerous years?

That is - emigration? But in this version will be no publications... And the ban reading. Until new times will have come.

And emigration isn't simple for life... Bunin and Nabokov? They are people of (Western) European culture.

How to be overseas to the one, who learn to read on the Church books, who grew up among the literate simple pious villagers, who studied in a Church-teacher school. How to be overseas to the one, whose views were formed in communion with the ordinary village priest?

Besides. No European practicalness with a some sort of plan, a project, a distinct inner discipline, a record of income and expenditure, savings, a bank account, and paperwork of the necessary documents...

Means, Not emigrant. But according to "Gogol model" - to live in others houses and on hospitable bread - it won't turn out. Not that education, not those habits, not that humility. Lack of fear of a terrible court, at last. Young temperament. Unique visual attractiveness ("Angel", "Cherub"). Ease of a poetic feather.

Means - loyalty, let both limited, and conditional, let and without certificate? Hopes for security, for financial prosperity, for a dispensation, for influence, for any fragments of sweet involvement in unlimited power?

The country is changing, it's obvious. Is it possible to stand aside, not to help? How to help? Naturally, by poetry, poetic creativity.

"The earth - the ship!

But Someone suddenly

Behind new life, new glory

In a direct thick of storms and blizzards

Majestically moved it forwards."

"But the one who thought of the maiden,

Will ascend in the star ship."

Means - loyalty, let and limited, conditional. We shall test with a claw - it won't stick.

Isadora remains in the past.

"Anna Snegina"?

Perhaps, all these reflections were present, but - on a surface?

And in depth - the genius's intuition. Historical intuition. Historical insight.

If he leave away abroad, - almost certainly a ban: "the emigrant".

Loyalty? It's not that easy. It's really hard. I would like to, but books are not allowed. you can not to remove away off from your life Church books, religious relatives, church and teachers' school and village priest. And if you cut off all this, it' will be unpleasant.

And it is difficult to leave. And to remain - there are no prospects.

And if: "pothouse" ('kabak') and "hooligan"?

And what?

And so: "the peasant's poet - bully."

They will rotating the book by their hands - neither yes, nor no. They will keep silence. They will not say anything. Though will not approve (out loud), but they will not forbid reading either ...

TO REMAIN IN THE SOULS? TO REMAIN IN THE HEARTS? TO HELP? TO SUPPORT?

1944.

The lieutenant who has emerged from bloody fights near Bialystok - the recent school student who has found in himself talents of the fearless commander and accurate machine gunner - remembered recent hand-to-hand fighting when he fought off attacking enemy soldiers with a machine gun's spare barrel, and when, been nearly strangled, he have hacked one of opponents with an engineer shovel.