The moral character and characteristic features of the poetic work of Ivan Savich Nikitin

On the occasion of the eightieth anniversary of his birth. Speech delivered at the ceremony of the Isidorovsky Women's School on October 10, 1904. Today is a solemn holiday of our educational nursery, which prepares activists mainly in the pedagogical field. Young generations, students of our school, are guests of the present and masters of the future, which they receive, in the form of an inheritance, from previous generations. Each generation, continuing the work of the previous one, brings something new from itself. But this new, in order to be stable, durable, strong and valuable, must historically develop from the old, be based on it, only revealing it and improving it, leading it deeper and deeper, more perfectly and fully into consciousness and life. One of the most important, primary educational means, especially for the younger generation, is, undoubtedly, literature, and mainly and above all domestic, native literature, reflecting in itself, as in a mirror, the needs, demands, aspirations, requirements, characteristics and ideals of the Russian people. September 21 of this year marked the eightieth anniversary of the birth of one of our domestic poets, Ivan Savvich Nikitin - a poet, admittedly, not of the first magnitude, but undoubtedly still outstanding, serious and sincere. A feasible and, if possible, brief reproduction of some of the features of his moral character and the disclosure of the most significant, characteristic features of his poetic creativity will be offered - on this occasion - to the enlightened attention of this highly respected assembly, which graced our humble celebration with its presence. Nikitin is remarkable, first of all, as a person who had an unusually strong character, perseverance in the fight against external circumstances - need, deprivation, family troubles and adversity. Among the most difficult conditions, he retained complete moral self-control, steadily and constantly strived, despite all obstacles, for the light of knowledge: he was imbued with a sincere and deep religious mood and devotion to the Church, deeply believed in the meaning of life, governed by Providence; He was distinguished by his sensitivity and responsiveness to the needs, sorrows and suffering of his neighbors. Despite the difficult life circumstances, which, apparently, could completely crush and depersonalize any other, less persistent and strong-willed person, Nikitin did not bury his talent in the ground: he, depriving himself of the necessary rest after a hard and troublesome day’s work, studied, read, thought about what he read, looked closely at life, observed the “miserable poverty” of the people around him - he experienced with his heart the grief and suffering of his neighbors and “he poured out his sorrow” in sounds. Nikitin depicted an energetic, tireless struggle with the environment and difficult circumstances of life in the following words: Like a prisoner I was eager to be released... I wanted light, air!.. I had no regrets in the fight against fate! In general, the life of our poet shows us one of the rare and remarkable examples of the dominance of a person’s mental and moral personality over external circumstances. In his own words, although he inherited suffering almost “from the very cradle,” “as a man, he did not forget his high goal in the painful struggle!” (Vol. I, p. 175). He strove to live in such a way that, despite all everyday adversities, he would be worthy of the name of man, “this intelligent creation of God.” That’s why Nikitin’s biographer 1 is right when he says that the best poem he created is his life: the best type is himself” 2 . What gave our poet the necessary strength not to lose heart in the everyday struggle, to persistently and cheerfully strive for the light, for truth and goodness? Is it not surprising that he “endured the harsh cold of a strict life calmly” and “did not ask heaven for a new path during the hours of prayer”? Where did our poet find the strength necessary to accomplish his life’s feat? Where did he find relief and consolation in his difficult lot? Nikitin’s poetic gift, which he looked upon as his calling, as “the best gift from heaven,” as “a precious treasure,” which he cherished and kept, seeing in it a talent entrusted to him by God, his poetic creativity served as joy and consolation for him, gave him light in his difficult life, gave him bright moments when he forgot everything around him and was transported to an ideal world. Here's what he says about himself: I had joyful moments When I poured out all my sorrow in sounds! And I knew hearts of peace and tears of inspiration And he considered the bitter share enviable. For my gift, at that moment, I thanked God, My dark corner seemed like paradise to me. At such moments he became “alien to the worries of the day, to urgent needs.” As a true poet, Nikitin understood the “living language of nature,” and, contemplating nature, came to the conviction that “the world is beautiful.” By the poet’s own admission, “the migratory wind spoke to him.” He understood “the noise of forests, and waves, and blizzards.” He “has been accustomed since childhood to understand” the forest’s “mute silence” and its “mysterious language, Like something close and dear. In the bosom of nature, “both in heart and in thoughts,” he found “freedom.” In the silence of vast nature I find peace for my mind and heart; And earthly impressions are alien to me, And so light in the depths of my soul: It seems to me that you are in solitude with me Then the whole world talks in silence... Here is my mother, friend and mentor - nature. And life seems brighter ahead for me, When to your powerful, wide chest She tolerates me like a baby And it pours part of its strength into my soul. Thus, the poet’s “healthy heart” reflected in itself “the world and the Creator.” Nikitin, in his own words, “contemplated the presence of God in creation.” For him, as for every person with a sensitive and pure heart, it was undoubtedly that “in its own language” nature, and years, and centuries, freely echoes the solemn hymn to the omnipresent God.” The presence of an unfathomable force Hidden mysteriously in everything: There is meaning and life in the silence of the night, And in the brilliance of the day, and in the silence of the grave, In the movement of countless worlds, In the solemn peace of the ocean, And in the twilight of brooding forests, And in the horror of the steppe hurricane, In the breath of a cool breeze, And in the rustle of leaves before dawn, And in the beauty of a desert flower, And in the stream flowing under the mountain. Closeness to nature produced a gratifying, calming, pacifying impression on the poet’s soul, which was often resolved by prayer. And then I forget my sad day, I put up with work abandoned without complaint, I look at the heavens and pray in silence... When alone, in moments of reflection, I talk with nature in silence, I believe: there is a holy Providence And gentle peace for the heart and soul; And then I forget my sadness, I resign myself to my need, And I invisibly pray to heaven, And I sing a song and shed tears... The poet’s religious mood, undoubtedly instilled in him in childhood, in his family upbringing, sincere and deep, was strengthened and supported in the poet also by those sorrowful circumstances with which his whole life was full, and which were very noticeably reflected in his poetic work. Suffering often inspired the best poets of our century and was the source of those religious motives that are often heard in their poetry. Grief gives the soul wings that carry a person to heaven. Grief is the bridge connecting this world with the one above. And Nikitin’s sorrowful motives are very often resolved with prayerful chords, which softened his sad mood, giving him relief, tranquility and even joy and peace. Your cross and your cup are heavy Bitter! But the Lord of all lives: Let not your heart be troubled, Pray, believe in Him! A tear will fall from you - He knows The number of all raindrops is He is all love and life and strength, With Him all things are good, with Him there is light in darkness... In difficult moments of painful doubts and grave sorrows, when the poet’s “heart” did not find “comfort” in anything, when he felt with especially acute pain “all the evil in this world, all the sorrow of man,” he found peace, consolation and relief only in prayer. I will bow my knees before the holy icon And with fervent prayer I will fall on my face. And it seems to me, I hear an indistinct whisper, And someone is standing with me in the twilight: Perhaps, invisibly, in that moment of grace, My guardian angel says a prayer. And bright joy will pour into my soul. The poet was especially touched by the ability of our common people to “believe and endure,” to bear their cross without complaint in the most difficult life situations, in constant grief, need and deprivation. The poet was not only amazed at this spiritual power of the Russian people, but advised everyone to learn “this ability.” (Vol. II, p. 21: “Overnight in the village”). In the poem “Grandfather,” the poet presented the image of a lonely, forgotten and abandoned, poor, decrepit old peasant man, who had seen a lot of “sorrows throughout his life” and in his old age had the only joy - “to go to God’s church.” And in his prayer, he does not pour out complaints before God, he does not ask for relief and improvement of his fate, but “he glorifies God for his sorrows, a child of God.” And the entire Russian people throughout their entire historical past, according to the conviction of our poet, demonstrated this powerful moral strength, in the struggle against obstacles they tempered their spirit, gradually but steadily walking along the path determined for them by Providence, growing from glory to glory, from strength to strength. Such is your destiny, Holy Russia, - Growing up on piles of ashes, It's not the first time you've stood In the fight against foreign tribes It rose like a huge rock. Under such conditions, there is no reason to fear for the future fate of the Russian people. No matter what difficult trials he was destined to endure in his historical life, no matter what grave adversities befell him, there is no reason to doubt his fruitful work for the good of mankind and for the glory of God, “The Lord rules Russia.” But at the same time, according to the poet’s conviction, the honest, selfless work of all Russian people is required, of course, especially those who have the opportunity and ability to exert a beneficial influence on the common people, serve them in the matter of their enlightenment, and help them cope with other numerous needs. The poet looked with hope at the younger generations, expected a lot from them, called them to private, selfless work for the Russian people. Your road will not be easy, he appealed to the youth... Banner of honor and strict truth They just carry it harder into the storm. Endless thought movement, The kingdom of reason, holy truth, - This is your direct destination, A good deed on native soil!... Glory to those who serve the truth!.. Let's hurry to work together...