“The Staff of Isaiah”: Catacomb Discourse in Arseny Tarkovsky’s Poetry

This article analyses the work of A. Tarkovsky (1907–1989), for whom 1917 became a turning point which subsequently determined his “internal emigration”. The most important creative mission was restoration interrupted cultural tradition Russian modernism. As its representative, Akhmatova is model and ethical behaviour artist Tarkovsky. Tarkovsky’s poetry from 1930s–1960s considered view catacomb secret discourse (coding, subtext, background). Through images desert, sand, heat, closed eyes, it expresses alienation new culture politics, stoic opposition to oblivion, desire preserve memory (Mandelstam, Tsvetaeva) that binds history into single whole. In situation such values as an individual’s dignity, Christian humility, life are significant poet, focuses on biblical early tradition, in poet appears prophet, messiah, spiritual leader people (Isaiah, John Baptist, Christ), emphasising not mystical or ritual but social ethics, characteristic intelligentsia nineteenth century, with moral uncompromisingness (“straight” ways). An context understanding image reflection L. Chukovskaya’s Notes Anna (1938–1966). Polemising Narodism rejection Soviet period, Chukovskaya express key twentieth centuries (personal freedom, uncompromisingness, criticism relativism, truth justice, prophetic ministry, sacrifice, poverty). poetic prophet also oppose simplification expressing core preserving modernist complexity poetics (openness involvement world culture, intertextuality, neomythologism, associativity).