Thematic cyclization of David Samoilov's lyrical book “The second pass”

The book of poems by David Samoilov “The Second Pass” (1963) is based on cyclization, carried out according to the thematic principle. In the initial poems, a military theme is stated, but in subsequent texts it fades into the background, being replaced by themes of maturity and creativity. They are revealed by means of end-to-end images of autumn, foliage, as well as by creating a gallery of images of poets and artists of different eras. Among these figures, a special place is occupied by A.S. Pushkin, whose image is associated with the theme of freedom. The creative freedom asserted at the end of the book is thematically connected with the existential freedom shown in the initial texts, acquired by the Samoilov generation in the war. The lyrics of the book “The Second Pass” continues and rethinks the legacy of Russian Art Nouveau, especially of the late period (1940s - 50s), associated with the names of Pasternak and Zabolotsky. She develops the theme of creativity as a transformation of the world and the human essence of the poet. Samoilov’s poet returns to ordinary words, their original essence and power. Thematic roll calls and reminiscences connect the lyrics of the collection with Russian classical poetry of the 19th - early 20th centuries. In Samoilov’s understanding of the Pushkin theme, the ethical component of the poet’s image comes to the fore, providing an aesthetic one, which is characteristic of the Russian artistic mentality. All these features, coupled with the attraction to cyclization as such, connect the poet’s lyrics with the tradition of Russian Art Nouveau. At the same time, the experience of the impending decline of culture inherent in David Samoilov’s later lyrics connects his work with the postmodern era.