Wild honey smells of freedom The dust - of sunlight The mouth of a young girl, like a violet But gold - smells of nothing.
Anna AkhmatovaRead
It was a time when only the dead smiled, happy in their peace.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that in times of turmoil, only those who are no longer alive find true peace.
Anna Akhmatova's quote reflects on the nature of peace and happiness, implying that during periods of great strife or emotional turmoil, the only beings who have achieved true serenity are the deceased. It evokes a sense of irony in how life can be filled with suffering, while death brings an end to that pain, allowing the dead to appear content in their eternal rest.
Themes
PeaceDeathHappinessTurmoilLife
In practice
Example use cases
A reflective piece during a memorial service discussing the nature of life and death.
More from Anna Akhmatova
All quotes βAnd you know, I agree to everything: I will condemn, I will forget, I will give comfort to the enemy, Darkness will be light and sin lovely.
Anna AkhmatovaRead
Who will grieve for this woman? Does she not seem too insignificant for our concern? Yet in my heart I never will deny her, Who suffered death because she chose to turn.
Anna AkhmatovaRead
I myself, from the very beginning, Seemed to myself like someone's dream or delirium Or a reflection in someone else's mirror, Without flesh, without meaning, without a name. Already I knew the list of crimes That I was destined to commit.
Anna AkhmatovaRead
If you were music I would listen to you ceaselessly And my low spirits would brighten up.
Anna AkhmatovaRead
Not, not mine: it's somebody else's wound; I could never have borne it. So take the thing that happened, hide it, stick it in the ground; whisk the lamps away.
Anna AkhmatovaRead
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