Mirra Lokhvitskaya: “I want to die in spring”

In Mirra Lokhvitskaya’s poem “I Want to Die in Spring”, we encounter a poignant interplay between a yearning for the beauty of youth and an admiration for the rejuvenation of nature, juxtaposed with an underlying motif of early death. Despite the poet’s lack of significant health issues, the question arises: why does the lyrical heroine express a desire to die? Or did she have a different aspiration? A crucial line, “Rise again, fragrant”, suggests a connection to the symbolism of resurrection, which may provide insight into her intentions. Analyzing the poem within the broader context of Lokhvitskaya’s body of work reveals the duality inherent in the image of spring; it encompasses not only biblical themes but also allusions to the pagan resurrection of deities.