A Russian Love Story

Among Russia’s most famous novelists, Dostoyevski’s works include Crime and Punishment (1866), The Idiot (1869), Demons (1872) and The Brothers Karamazov (1880). Afflicted with bad health and in constant debt, he falls in love with his stenographer, Anna, who saves him. This poem was inspired by Dostoyevski and Anna’s story as told by David Brooks in his book The Second Mountain.

A Love Story 7.16.19

Dostoyevski struggles emotionally 
Falling into poverty
Under horrific deadlines
He writes himself out of debt
 
Needing a stenographer
He meets Anna G.
Together they write “The Gambler”
And they part ways
 
They stay in touch
Eventually becoming friends
He the unstable artist
She the pragmatic muse
 
Playing the cynic he confessed
“Only a fool would wed an artist”
Playing the fool she said
“I would love you all my life”
 
The cynic marries the fool
And becomes whole
They lose two children
But their life is glorious 
 
She managed him to success
He loved and respected her 
He worshiped her until his death
A special person created just for him