Shortly after he turned forty, Joseph Brodsky wrote a poem to commemorate the occasion: “May 24, 1980,” in its English translation; in Russian, wi

Gratitude despite the odds - by Maria Konnikova - The Leap

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2024-11-30 08:30:03

Shortly after he turned forty, Joseph Brodsky wrote a poem to commemorate the occasion: “May 24, 1980,” in its English translation; in Russian, with just its opening line as a title, “Я входил вместо дикого зверя в клетку,” or, “I walked into the cage instead of the wild beast.” 1

As much as I love writing about psychology and decision making, I also love using this space to introduce people to my favorite poems, my favorite poets, my favorite literary moments. And Thanksgiving week seems the perfect time for this interlude.

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In 1964, when he was only 24, Brodsky was sentenced to five years in a hard labor camp for “social parasitism” - a made-up charge levied against those who were “parasites” on society. Why was he being arrested, he dared to wonder aloud, during his trial?

The court had no real answer. The official excuse was that he wasn’t physically toiling away at some occupation, as every able-bodied citizen must. But unofficially, it was clear that it’s what, precisely, he was doing with his time that was at issue. Brodsky was writing poetry—and poetry that was not particularly Soviet in nature. His words, his thoughts, his very being were a danger to the Soviet regime. Words have power. And his poetry was a weapon.