“I’ve lived to bury my desires,And see my dreams corrode with rust;Now all that’s left are fruitless firesThat burn my empty heart to dust.”
In this poignant quote by Aleksandr Pushkin, the speaker reflects on the passage of time and the fading of their hopes and dreams. The use of vivid imagery such as "corrode with rust" and "burn my empty heart to dust" evokes a sense of decay and loss. The speaker laments the emptiness and futility of their current state, highlighting the tragic inevitability of dreams and desires slipping away. This quote captures the universal experience of grappling with unfulfilled aspirations and the painful process of letting go. It serves as a reminder of the transient nature of life and the impermanence of our deepest desires.
In this poignant verse by Aleksandr Pushkin, the speaker reflects on the disillusionment and emptiness that can come with age and experience. The imagery of burying desires and watching dreams corrode with rust conveys a sense of loss and longing. This theme of unfulfilled aspirations and internal strife is something that many individuals can relate to in today's fast-paced and often uncertain world. The feeling of burning one's heart to dust with fruitless fires speaks to the struggle of holding onto hope in the face of disappointment and despair. Pushkin's words remind us of the universal human experience of grappling with unmet expectations and the inevitable decay of dreams over time.
"I’ve lived to bury my desires,
And see my dreams corrode with rust;
Now all that’s left are fruitless fires
That burn my empty heart to dust.”
— Aleksandr Pushkin
In the poem by Aleksandr Puskin, the speaker expresses a sense of loss and disillusionment. Reflecting on this poem, consider the following questions: 1. Have you ever experienced a sense of burying your desires or seeing your dreams corrode with time? How did it make you feel? 2. What do you think the speaker means by "fruitless fires" burning their heart to dust? Can you relate to this feeling? 3. How does the imagery of rust and fire in the poem contribute to the overall sense of despair and emptiness? 4. Do you believe that it is possible to rejuvenate one's desires and dreams after they have seemingly faded away? How might this be achieved? 5. What can we learn from the speaker's reflections on loss and disillusionment in this poem?
“I've lived to bury my desiresand see my dreams corrode with rustnow all that's left are fruitless firesthat burn my empty heart to dust.Struck by the clouds of cruel fateMy crown of Summer bloom is sereAlone and sad, I watch and waitAnd wonder if the end is near.As conquered by the last cold airWhen Winter whistles in the windAlone upon a branch that's bareA trembling leaf is left behind.”
“I am an alien. i am not of this world, nor do I call it "home". My desires are not for earthly things that will fade, corrode or burn. I set my heart and mind on things above. My faith and hope are in God alone and I eagerly await His return for me, because you see, "I'm a citizen of heaven...”
“corrode, v.I spent all this time building a relationship. Then one night I left the window open and it started to rust.”
“I didn’t have time to bury the money. All my precious time was taken up burying the body. I should have left the body and hid the cash. Damn! Now I’ve got no body, but no money, and nobody to blame but myself.”
“Once upon a time, son, they used to laugh with their hearts and laugh with their eyes; but now they only laugh with their teeth, while their ice-block-cold eyes search behind my shadow. There was a time indeed they used to shake hands with their hearts; but that’s gone, son. Now they shake hands without hearts while their left hands search my empty pockets.”