Polina Narzonova wrote a poem dedicated to Emperor Nicholas IItranslated

On National Unity Day, Kalmyk poetess Polina Narzonova wrote the poem “My Sovereign Father,” dedicated to Emperor Nicholas II. The work is addressed to the memory of the beginning of the reign of the last Russian emperor and reflects the personal family tradition of honoring the royal family. The poetic text connects the date of Nicholas II’s accession to the throne—October 20 (November 1), 1894, after the death of Emperor Alexander III—with reflections on the fate of Russia and historical memory. The author refers to the emperor as a “sovereign father,” recalling St. Petersburg, the Winter Palace and the alarming time at the beginning of his reign. Family memory of the sovereigns According to Polina Narzonova, in family legends she heard how much respect her grandfather, Ovshe Muchkinovich Norzunov, had for Emperor Alexander III and Emperor Nicholas II. The poetess's grandfather revered these statesmen and appreciated getting to know them.

This family tradition of honoring the royal family became one of the sources for Polina Narzonova to turn to the image of Nicholas II and the theme of historical continuity. In the poem “My Sovereign Father,” the poetess combines the personal memory of her family with reflection on the fate of Russia and the meaning...