Centenary musings on a poem of Anna Akhmatova

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Monday December 31, 2012 · 12:11 PM PST

2012/12/31 · 12:11

"Cabaret Artistique"
January 1, 1913

Все мы бражники здесь, блудницы,        We're all revelers here, prostitutes,
Как невесело вместе нам!                How unhappy we are all together!
На стенах цветы и птицы                On the wall, flowers and birds
Томятся по облакам.                    Languish on clouds.

Ты куришь черную трубку,            You puffing on your black pipe,
Так странен дымок над ней.            A strange haze hovering over.
Я надела узкую юбку,                Me wearing a tight skirt
Чтоб казаться еще стройней.            Highlighting my slim figure.

Навсегда забиты окошки:                Permanently sealed windows:
Что там, изморозь или гроза?            What's out there? sleet or storm?
На глаза осторожной кошки            The cautious eyes of a cat
Похожи твои глаза.                    So like yours.

О, как сердце мое тоскует!            O how my heart yearns!
Не смертного ль часа жду?            Couldn't be in waiting for the hour of death?
А та, что сейчас танцует,                Over there, she's dancing,
Непременно будет в аду.                No doubt on her way to hell.

Some comments below the pipesmoke curlique

Parlous Daze

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday September 13, 2012 · 12:21 PM PDT

2012/09/13 · 12:21

There is an exception to the free speech principle that we reflexively add at the beginning of every discussion of the topic. We all say "...of course, it is not ok to yell 'Fire!' in a crowded theater."

That is the precise analogy of what happened on this just-past 9/11 when as yet unknown parties saw to the wide distribution of the infamous anti-Mohammad video trailer, conveniently dubbed in Arabic. Predictable results and horrible consequences ensued: death and destruction that is going strong into its third day.

In fact, Oliver Wendell Holmes coined the phrase in a decision that was later overturned in favor of a more restricted version "which limited the scope of banned speech to that which would be directed to and likely to incite imminent lawless action (e.g. a riot)."

Who did the translation and dubbing, who posted the trailers to Youtube? Who decided to do it on 9/11? Answers to these questions are urgently needed given the dangerous train of subsequent events. More reflections on the other side of the magical Kos mirror

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Centenary musings on a poem of Anna Akhmatova

"Fire" in a theater; Inflammatory anti-Muslim video on 9/11