The article is devoted to the famous poem by Semyon Isaakovich
Kirsanov (1906–1972) «Mary rider» (1925). A poem was written in the middle
of the Soviet 1920-ies, exactly expresses the spirit of the first revolutionary decade.
The era took a resolute policy of rapprochement with the art of cinema and
a circus. The ancient art of the circus close to the primordial basics of life.
It always felt fun, spirit of adventure and a real physical danger. The article consists of three sections.
The first section describes sources of the poem. Given the system of four
prepared by the author editions. The first two were published in 1920 year, the
third and the fourth only in the 1960–1970-ies, after the catastrophic events of
the mid-twentieth century. Contains information about the archival materials
associated with the creative history of poems. Recreated the story of two recordings
of the author\s reading of the poem (they were made by S. I. Bernstein and
A. A. Shilov).
The second section gives an overview of the responses belonging to the first
generation of readers and listeners of the poem. Kirsanov was famous not only
as a poet but also as a brilliant performer of his poems. The survey shows the
rejection of a futuristic experiment official, and far from the authorities and official
critics. Show and those cases where the critics and the audience expressed
approval eccentric poetics of Kirsanov.
Third on behalf of the heroine and the plot of the poem: it tells about the
death of a rider during the execution of the rooms of the circus program. In the
history of Russian poetry of the name Mary is associated with two cases of its
use in the poetry of A. S. Pushkin. In the XX century poetry and drama
A. A. Block with the name Mary contacted new meanings and values. After the
publication of the poems of the Block associated with the character named
Mary, given motivic complex was repeatedly reproduced from poets, imitators.
The name Mary and the image of the circus arena and closer to the poem
Kirsanova (in the poetry of A. I. Venediktov, and A. E. Belinzon). But only
Kirsanov was able to associate with that image acutely dynamic and tragic story,
embodied in the aesthetics of futurism and the literary group LEF.
The fourth section describes in detail the composition of the poem and the
principles of the relationship between narrative and evocative (unintelligible)
parts of the test. Onomatopoeia effectively simulates the sound of a circus band.
Shows how consistently the story destroys the balance between narrative and
evocative, and as he recovered in the final poem.
Audio applications to the article can be listened to by links: 1 , 2
Anch. P. Nikolaj Aseev, Semen Kirsanov zavtra chitajut na utrennike
«Smeny». In: Smena [The Change]. 1929, No. 39 (1447), 16 fevr., p. 3.
Aseev N. N. Razgrimirovannaja krasavica. Putevye zapiski [Pass beautiful.
Travel notes]. M., Federacija, 1928. 227 p.
Belenson A. Cirk. In: Vesennee kontragentstvo muz [Muse's Spring
contrahendo]. Sb. Pod red. D. Burljuka i S. Vermelja. M., Izdanie Studii
D. Burljuka i Sam. Vermel', 1915, p. 85.
Belenson A. Bezumija: Tret'ja kniga stihov [Madness: The Third book of
poems]. M., Tipografija «Iskra revoljucii», 1924, 61 p.
Blok A. A. Poln. sobr. soch. i pisem: V 20 t. [Complete works and letters,
20 vol.]. M.: Nauka, 1997–...
Burenina-Petrova O. D. Cirk v prostranstve kul’tury [The circus in the space
of culture]. M., Novoe literaturnoe obozrenie, 2014, 426 p.
Vasilij Kamenskij: Pojet. Aviator. Cirkach. Genij futurizma. Neopublikovannye
teksty. Faksimile. Kommentarii i issledovanija [Vasily Kamensky, Poet. Aviator.
Circus. The genius of futurism. Unpublished texts. Facsimile. Comments
and research]. Sost. i nauch. red. A. A. Rossomahina. SPb., Izdatel'stvo Evropejskogo universiteta v Sankt-Peterburge, 2017, 432 s.
Venediktov A. Mjeri iz Vladivostoka. In: Literaturnaja mysl’: Al’manah
[The Literary though, Almanac]. [Iss.] 2. Pg., Mysl', 1923, pp. 73–79.
Volchaneckaja E. D. (Rovinskaja E. D.). Serebrjanyj lebed’ [The Silver
Swan]. M.–Pg.: Gosudarstvennoe izdatel'stvo, 1923, 73 p.
Gasparov M. L. Pojetika «serebrjanogo veka». In: Russkaja pojezija
«serebrjanogo veka», 1890–1917, Antologija [Russian poetry of the silver age,
1890–1917, The Anthology], M., Nauka, 1993, pp. 5–44.
Gasparov M. L. Semen Kirsanov, znamenosec sovetskogo formalizma. In:
Kirsanov S. I. Stihotvorenija i pojemy [Verses and poems]. SPb., Akademicheskij
proekt, 2006 (Ser. «Novaja biblioteka pojeta»), pp. 5–18.
Gel’fandbejn G. [Rec. na:] S. Kirsanov. «Opyty». Kniga stihov, 129 str.
GIZ, c. 1 r. 25 k.; M. Svetlov. «Nochnye vstrechi». «Molodaja gvardija», 62 str., c. 1 r. In: Krasnoe slovo [The Red word]. 1927, No. 2/3, pp. 180–181.
Grigor’ev V. P., Kolodjazhnaja L. I., Shestakova L. L. Sobstvennoe imja v
russkoj pojezii XX veka. Slovar’ lichnyh imen [The Personal name in Russian
poetry of the twentieth century. Dictionary of personal names]. M., Izdatel'skij
centr Azbukovnik, 2005, 448 p.
Dovgij O. L., Kulagin A. V. Pushkinskoe stihotvorenie «Iz Barry Cornwall»
i ego anglijskij istochnik. In: Boldinskie chtenija [Symposium in Boldino].
Gor’kij: Volgo-Vjatskoe knizhnoe izdatel’stvo, 1985, pp. 144–154.
Evgenov E. [Rec. na:] Semen Kirsanov. «Opyty». Kniga stihov predvaritel'naja.
1925–26 g. GIZ. 1927 g. 129 str. 1 r. 25 k.. In: Pravda [The True]. 1927, No. 108 (364), 15 maja, p. 7.
Zhic F. [Rec. na:] Semen Kirsanov. – «Opyty» (stihi) GIZ, 132 str. In:
Vechernjaja Moskva [The Evening Moscow]. 1927, No. 79, 8 apr., p. 3.
Zhurin V., Zalkind G., Rabinovich L. Flejty oseni [The flutes of autumn].
Kazan’, Tipografija Ja. N. Podzemskogo, 1914, 83 p.
Zabolockij N. A. Jazyk Pushkina i sovetskaja pojezija (Zametki pisatelja).
In: Izvestija [News]. 1937, No. 22 (6184), 25 janv., p. 6.
Zenkevich M. A. [Rec. na:] Semen Kirsanov. Opyty. Kniga stihov
predvaritel'naja. 1925–1926. Giz. – M.–L., 1927. Str. 129. Tir. 2000 jekz. C. 1 r. 25 k. In: Pechat' i revoljucija [The Press and the Revolution]. 1927, iss. 6, sent., pp. 218–219.
Katanjan V. A. Raspechatannaja butylka [The open bottle]. Nizhnij Novgorod:
Dekom, 1999, 348 p.
Kirsanov S. I. Meri naezdnica (Otryvok iz pojemy). Sluchaj v cirke. In:
Al’manah «Krasnaja nov’» [The Red Novelty, Almanac]. No. 2. M., L., Gosudarstvennoe izdatel'stvo, 1925, pp. 292–294.
Kirsanov S. I. Opyty. Kniga stihov predvaritel’naja. 1925–1926 [Experiences.
Preliminary book of poems. 1925–1926]. M., L., Gosudarstvennoe izdatel'stvo, 1927, 128 p.
Kirsanov S. I. Poslednij sovremennik [The Last Contemporary]. M., Federacija,
1930, 96 p.
[Kirsanov S. I.] Semen Isaakovich Kirsanov chitaet 8 stihotvorenij [Semyon
Kirsanov’ recitations of 8 his verses]. Zapis' 18.12.1963. URL: http://imwerden.
de/publ-1974.html (08.01.2017).
Kirsanov S. I. (a) Pojezija i palindromon. In: Nauka i zhizn’ [The Science
and The Life]. 1966, No. 7, pp. 75–77.
Kirsanov S. I. (b) Pojezija i cirk. In: Sovetskaja jestrada i cirk [Soviet Estrada and Circus]. 1966, No. 11, pp. 12–13.
Kirsanov S. I. Iskanija: Stihotvorenija i pojemy. 1923–1965 [Searches.
Verses and Poems. 1923–1965]. M., Hudozhestvennaja literatura, 1967, 240 p.
Kirsanov S. I. [Otvet na anketu «Kak jeto u nih bylo»]. In: Junost’ [The
Youth].1971, No. 1, p. 106.
Kirsanov S. I. Sobr. soch.: V 4 t. T. 4: Pojeticheskie poiski i proizvedenija
poslednih let [Works, 4 vol. Vol. 4, Poetry searches and poetry of the last years]. M., Hudozhestvennaja literatura, 1976, 405 p.
Kirsanov S. I. Stihotvorenija i pojemy [Verses and poems]. SPb., Akademicheskij proekt, 2006 (Ser. «Novaja biblioteka pojeta»), 800 p.
Krasil’nikov V. Devjat' knig stihov. In: Na literaturnom postu [The Literary
Post]. 1927, No. 11–12, ijun’, pp. 84–88.
Levin L. Pojeticheskoe zhonglerstvo: O novyh stihah S. Kirsanova. In: Literaturnaja gazeta [The Literary newspaper]. 1930, No. 39 (76), 4 sent., p. 4.
Levinton G. A. Zametki o fol'klorizme Bloka. In: Mif – fol'klor – literature
[The Myth – The Folklore – The Literature]. L., Nauka. Leningradskoe
otdelenie, 1978, pp. 171–185.
Lihachev D. S. Tekstologija: Na materiale russkoj literatury X–XVII vekov
[Textual criticism: On the material of Russian literature X–XVII centuries]. Izd. 2-e, pererab. i dop. L., Nauka; Leningradskoe otdelenie, 1983, 639 p.
Lunacharskaja-Rozenel’ N. A. Lunacharskij i Majakovskij. In: Majakovskij
v vospominanijah sovremennikov [Contemporaries Memoirs about Mayakovsky].
Vstupit. st. Z. S. Papernogo, sost. i primech. N. V. Reformatorskoj. M.,
Gosudarstvennoe izdatel'stvo hudozhestvennoj literatury, 1963, pp. 455–483.
M. S. «Nadutaja pustota». In: Na pod’jeme [During the Ascent]. 1927, No. 7,
Rostov-na-Donu, p. 42.
Malishevskij M. P. [Rec. na:] Semen Kirsanov. Tovarishh Marks. GIHL,
1933 g. S. 141. Cena 4 r. 50 k. Tir. 10.000. In: Novyj mir [The New World].
1933, No. 9, pp. 250–252.
Marshak S. Ja., Lebedev V. V. Cirk [The Circus], L., Raduga; 1-ja gos.
litografija, 1925, 14 pp.
Majakovskij V. V. Razgovor s fininspektorom o pojezii [A conversation with
the financial officer about poetry]. Tiflis: Zakkniga, 1926. 16 s.
Messer R. Vecher «LEFA» (K vystupleniju N. Aseeva i S. Kirsanova).
In: Zhizn’ iskusstva [The Life of Art]. 1929, No. 9, p. 13.
Mineralov Ju. I. Pojezija, pojetika, pojet [The Poetry, the Poetics and the the Poet]. M.: Sovetskij pisatel’, 1984, 208 p.
Minc Z. G. Blok i Pushkin. In: Minc Z. G. Aleksandr Blok i russkij simvolizm:
Izbrannye Trudy [Alexander Blok and Russian Symbolism, Selected works]: In 3 vol. Vol. 2: Aleksandr Blok i russkie pisateli. SPb., «Iskusstvo-SPb», 2000, pp. 145–260.
Mironova M. V., Menaker A. S. V svoem repertuare [In own repertoire]. M.,
Iskusstvo, 1984, 309 pp.
Oksenov I. [Rec. na:] Semen Kirsanov. Opyty. Kniga stihov predvaritel'naja.
Gos. Izdat. 1927. Str. 132. In: Zvezda [The Star]. 1927, No. 6, p. 158–159.
P. Kr. Vecher parodij. In: Vechernjaja Moskva [The Evening Moscow].
1926, No. 239, 16 okt., p. 4.
P-aja N. [Rec. na:] Al’manah «Krasnaja Nov’», No. 2. Gosizdat. 1925. Str.
373. Cena 1 r. 74 k. In: Pravda [The True]. 1926, No. 25 (3254), 31 janv., p. 7.
Pervyj vsesojuznyj sjezd sovetskih pisatelej. 1934: Stenograficheskij otchet
[The First All-Union Congress of Soviet writers. 1934: Transcript]. M.,
Goslitizdat, 1934, 718 p.
Pojezija 1920-h godov [Poetry of the 1920-ies]. Sost., predisl. i komment.
N. A. Bogomolova. M., Slovo/Slovo, 2008 (Ser. «Biblioteka russkoj klassiki»),
728 p.
Pushkin A. S. Poln. sobr. soch.: V 10 t. [Complete works, 10 vol.]. L.,
Nauka. Leningradskoe otdelennie, 1977–1979.
Rahmanov L. N. Chet-nechet: Povesti. Rasskazy. P’esy. Vospominanija.
Listki kalendarja [Even-odd. Novels. Stories. Play. Memories. The sheets of the
calendar]. L., Sovetskij pisatel’. Leningr. otdelenie, 1988, 702 p.
Rik. Semen Kirsanov. «Opyty». In: Vechernie izvestija (Odessa) [Evening
news, Odessa]. 1927, No. 1208, 9 apr., p. 2.
Rozanov I. N. Sovremennye liriki. VI: Lefovcy: Kamenskij, Kirsanov.
In: Rodnoj jazyk v shkole: Nauchno-pedagogicheskie sborniki [Native language
at school, Teaching and research collections]. Iss. 6. M., Rabotnik prosveshhenija, 1927, pp. 116–126.
Rozanov I. N. Russkie liriki: Ocherki [Russian lyrical poets, Essays]. M.:
Nikitinskie subbotniki, 1929, 212 p.
Roman R. [Rec. na:] Semen Kirsanov. «Opyty». Stihi. GIZ. Tir. 2000. Cena
1 r. 25 k. In: Molodaja gvardija [The Young Guard]. 1927, No. 6, pp. 187–188.
Sinel’nikov I. M. «Jeto bylo, bylo, bylo…»: Kniga vospominanij [«All that
was, was, was...» The Book of memories]. M., Dom-muzej Mariny Cvetaevoj,
2014, 176 p.
Smirnov I. P. Smysl kak takovoj [The Meaning as such]. SPb., Akademicheskij
proekt, 2001, 342 p.
Sproge L. V. Recepcija pushkinskih obrazov i sjuzhetov v lirike A. Bloka
(cikl «Mjeri»). In: Problemy pushkinovedenija: Sb. nauchn. trudov [Problems of
the studies in Pushkin, the Collection of scientific papers]. Riga: Latvijskij
gosudarstvennyj universitet im. P. Stuchki, 1983, pp. 102–114.
Tarasenkov A. K. Opasnosti na putjah pojeta: [Rec. na:] Kirsanov S. Poslednij
sovremennik. Izd. «Federacija». M. 1930. Tirazh 3000. Str. 95. Cena
1 rub. 10 kop. In: Kniga i revoljucija [The Book and the Revolution]. 1930,
No. 19, pp. 10–11.
Ulickaja M. Muzykal’nyj cirkach. In: Cirk i estrada [Circus and Estrada],
1928, No. 8 (40), maj, p. 1.
Urazov I. A. Cvetnye stekla: Stihi [The colored glass Poems]. Pg.: L’oiseau
bleu, 1917, 22 p.
Frezinskij B. Ja. Za kulisami triumfa (Sovetskie pisateli v Evrope 1936
goda). In: Frezinskij B. Ja. Pisateli i sovetskie vozhdi: Izbrannye sjuzhety 1919–1960 godov [The Writers and the Soviet Leaders, Selected stories of 1919–1960 years]. M., Jellis Lak, 2008, pp. 476–505.
Fridman N. V. Pesnja Mjeri. In: Izvestija Akademii nauk SSSR. Serija literatury i jazyka [Proceedings of the USSR Academy of Sciences, Series of Literature and Language]. Vol. 33, Iss. 3. M., Izdatel’stvo AN SSSR, 1974, pp. 242–253.
Kharms D. I. Poln. sobr. soch. Zapisnye knizhki. Dnevnik: V 2 kn. Kn. 1
[Complete works, Notebook, Diary, in 2 v. Vol. 1]. SPb.: Akademicheskij proekt,
2002, 480 pp.
Khlebnikov V. V. Tvorenija [Creations]. Obshh. red. i vstup. st. M. Ja. Poljakova; Sost., podgot. teksta i komment. V. P. Grigor’eva i A. E. Parnisa. M.: Sovetskij pisatel’, 1986, 734 pp.
Shilov L. A. Golosa, zazvuchavshie vnov’: Zapiski zvukoarhivista-shestidesjatnika [The voice sounds again, Memoirs of an archivist of sound of 1960-ies]. M., Al’daon; Rusaki, 2004, 368 pp.
Javorskaja A. L. Rukopisi Semena Kirsanova v fondah Odesskogo Literaturnogo
muzeja. In: Dom knjazja Gagarina: Sb. nauchnyh statej i publikacij
[The House of Prince Gagarin, Collection of scientific articles and publications], Iss. 4, Odessa, Morjak, 2007, pp. 141–188.
Jakovlev B. V. Pojet dlja jestetov (Zametki o Velimire Hlebnikove i formalizme v pojezii). In: Novyj mir [The New World]. 1948, No. 5, pp. 207–231.
Plot and Zaum’ (Nonsense) // Критика и семиотика. 2017. № 2. Pp. 165–198.