Anna Akhmatova was born near Odessa in 1889, but lived most of her life in Saint Petersburg. As a consequence of her decision to remain in Russia after the October Revolution she faced much personal hardship and a protracted poetic silence, but was also able to create Requiem, her great affirmation of solidarity with the victims of the Stalinist purges. She died in Moscow in 1966.

Anna Akhmatova

Stephen Capus has published poems, translations, and reviews in various magazines, including Acumen, Modern Poetry in Translation, and Stand. His pamphlet 24 Hours was published by Rack Press in 2020.

Stephen Capus

Articles

Anna Akhmatova’s “Requiem”