“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.”
Explore This Quote Further
Analysis of Aleksandr Pushkin's Quote
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.
Understanding the Emotional Turmoil in "I’ve Lived to Bury My Desires" by Aleksandr Pushkin
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.
Aleksandr Pushkin's Poetic Despair
"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
Reflection Questions:
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?
Similar quotes
“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.”
“Asa, ca norii de pe cer,Gandurile ne preschimba chipul suavPe care, astazi, iubindu-l,Poti maine sa-l urasti.”
“You’re with me,” Dan murmured against Vadim’s lips. “In my thoughts, my heart, my mind, no matter what I am doing. I goddamned need you, and I want you—always.”
“I thought I was better than you.” He felt too much, was tearing himself open with all this, but nine years deserved all his pain. “How wrong was I.” Vadim reached behind him to touch Dan’s neck. “I wanted you even then. And I was... curious. I tried to... get into your mind, and instead let you in. Not good, and yet best thing I’ve done in this whole war.” “Best thing I’ve done in all my life”.”
“If I touched you, that’d be it.” Dan shook his head, “Damn, how the fuck am I going to make you understand?” Pleading, almost. “You are everything, don’t you get it? You are the Afghan mountains, the damned red dust, the endless sky. You were my home, and more often than not, also my reason. You are unlike all the others, unlike anyone I shag, because when I touch you, it’s not just a touch, it’s eleven years of heaven and hell.”
“Knowing what Dan’s face had looked like in Kabul, the night they’d spent in the hotel room. What he’d said. My light, my life, my sanity, my love. Nothing of that had been wrong. Not the sex, the kisses, the teenager oaths of staying together, always, rain, shine, life, death. I’d die for you. Live for me. Hold me. Fucking hold me.”