“I Am Not One of Those Who Left the Land…”

This poem shows Akhmatova’s very strong patriotic feelings. From the start, we know that Akhmatova looks down to those who fled Russia at the “mercy of its enemies.” We see this through the words, “my songs are not for them to praise,” which in this case means that the words she outlines through her poems, that speak of the patriotism that she feels for her country, does not associate with those who “left the land” because they chose to run away rather than stay back and fight for what they believe is right. Akhmatova feels a sense of shame for those who left the land saying that “[t]heir flattery leaves me cold.” In addition, Akhmatova also bears pity on those who fled their land because those who choose the path of the wanderer are destined to a dark and infected pathway ahead of them. Akhmatova continues by saying that “in the murk of conflagration” or through the shade of this inferno, there is hardly “a friend that is left to know” because most of them have fled in fear of the growing power of their enemies. She notes that she believes that the people who did not leave the land are the true survivors because they did not “flinch” or drawback from anything. They did not cringe from “a single blow.” These “survivors” stood strong while their worlds slowly fell apart around them. Akhmatova adds that “after the passing of this cloud,” we will all realize the true survivors that still remain. After this cloud, which is a symbol of the hostility of nature, passes, the people who remain are those who are the strongest, those “without tears” and those who are “more proud.” This poem stood out to me among the other four poems because through this poem, we finally see the true colors of Akmatova’s patriotism. She is a woman who knows what she believes and makes sure to stand up for it. She believes that anyone that does not do the same is shameful to themselves, their country as well as to the world around them. Akhmatova is truly a survivor in the eyes of her country as well as her fellow readers.