Gennadiy Aygi

We belatedly note the birth date of Gennadiy Aygi (August 21, 1934 – February 21, 2006), Chuvash poet and translator. His poetry is written both in Chuvash and in Russian.

Aygi is widely considered to be one of the great avant-garde poets from the former Soviet Union. He was born in Chuvashia, a territory located in the western part of Russia.

In 1958 he was expelled from the Literary Institute in Moscow for his first book of poems, which was condemned by the censors as “hostile poetry” because it was written in Chuvash.

Being an outsider in the Russian empire had a profound impact on his life and poetry. His poems are infused with an elemental sense of life, mortality, and humanity.

Evening in Denisova Gorka 

Around our poles and posts 
our gates and gardens — 
everywhere — more and more — silence… — 

oh, give us simple strength! — 

strength — as the branch knocks against another branch 
now — I place my mug on the table 
sister closes the gate 
the wind picks up again — 

and like that we are home 
the sun has set below the hills 
around the garden posts — 

offering 
its small spark 
to the deepening dusk 

--Gennadiy Aygi

[Translated by Sarah Valentine[