Стихотворения

Gumilev was also the guiding spirit of a group of young poets who called themselves Zvuchashaya Rakovina (Sounding Sea-Shell), which included along with Vela Lur’e, Nikolaj Tixonov, Konstantin Vaginov, Georgij Ivanov and Irina Odoevceva. In the group’s collection «dedicated to the memory of our friend and teacher N.S. Gumilev» of which only 1000 copies were published in Petrograd in 1922 can be found three of Vera’s earliest poems, and her only poems to be published inside of Russia: «My body aches from sleplessness…» and «The church transparent from the sun…»

The poet’s association with Gumilev came to a tragic and shock ing end for the twenty year old girl, Returning from a meeting of the Sounding Sea-Shell in early August 1921 Gumilev was arrested. Just a few days later Aleksandr Blok, the shining light of Russian poetry, died. Vera along with the literary elite ol Russia attended his tuneral and a few weeks later would attend services in the Cathedral of Kazan for Gumilev who had been executed by the Soviets.

Like many others, Andrej Belyj, Maksim Gorkij, Aleksej Remizov, Vera left Russia in the fall of 1921. After stopping in Riga for about a month, she made her way to Berlin. At first her family lived in a series of Pensions and then later in one furnished apartment after another until 1933 when Vera moved into the apartment which has been her home for the last fifty years.

It is in Berlin that Vera, only twenty years old, entered the center of Russian literary life. Here she was a close friend of the Erenburgs, knew Aleksej Remizov, spent time with her friend from Petersburg, Nina Berberova, and others such as Vladislav Xodasevic and Aleksandr Вахтах. The most significant encounter in Berlin was with Andrej Belyj, whom she met at a meeting of the Berlin House of the Arts at the Landgraf Cafe.

Belyj, the one time golden haired boy of Russian Symbolism, was in die midst of the most productive period of his literary life. Everywhere he was in demand for public appearances. He was editor erf the newly opened journal, Epopeja, a member of the board of directors of the House of the Arts, President of the Free Philosophical Association in Berlin. He was a regular contributor to juornals and newspapers, was busy rewriting his novel Petersburg revising his completed poetical works and writing his monumental memories of Aleksandr Blok. Before his return to Russia in October 1923 Belyj would publish over twenty volumes of poetry, prose criticism and philosophy.

Vera met Belyj at the peak of his popularity in Berlin — the would follow also his decline and see him through one of the most difficult periods in his life, his final separation from his first wife, Asja Turgeneva-Bugaeva.

What was the relationship? What was the fascination? For Vera, Belyj was an “untouchable.” Twenty years separated the miidle-aged idol from his starry-eyed admirer. She was complimented and encouraged by his praise for her early poetic efforts and her reviews. She enjoyed his attention and was captivated by the exciting figures in his company. And she desired his love.

Belyj, on the other hand, was probably flattered by the attentions of this attractive young lady, a lovely dancing partner, a youthful companion, who could help him to forget some of the pain of Asja. By most accounts Belyj treated Vera poorly; even as she cared for him and loved him, she watched him distracted by Marina Cvetaeva, his German Mariechen and then Klavdija Vasil’eva.

The close association with Belyj and the arrival of her close friend Nina Berberova in July 1922 with Vladislav Xodasevic coin— j cided with a flurry of literary activity and the publishing career of Vera Lourie. She wrote many reviews for the important bibliographical journal, Novaja Russkaja Kniga (New Russian Book). She was also a regular contributor to two of the major Russian language daily newspapers in Berlin, Golos Rossii (The Voice of Russia) and its successor, Dni (Days). Throughout 1922 and 1923 Vera published over j twenty poems and more than forty reviews and articles.

Almost as quickly as they had begun, Vera’s literary opportunities and aspirations apparently ended. The Russian literary community abandoned Berlin in the fall of 1923. The economic crisis of that year heralded for most a return to conditions similar to those Russia after the Revolution and during the Civil War. The publishing industry, one of the major drawing cards for the literary elite, collapsed and most of the writers, many friends of Vera, scattered to Prague or Paris, while others returned to Soviet Russia. While they were free to Vera, still a young girl, remained behind with her family in Berlin The glamor, excitement and the glory of her former Petersburg and Berlin days were replaced with more earthly concerns.