Moscow as a gift to Petersburg: on Marina Tsvetaeva's cycle «Poems about Moscow»

This article attempts to study the personal and historical prerequisites for the creation of the cycle “Poems about Moscow” by Marina Ivanovna Tsvetaeva in 1916. The theme of her native city has always interested M.I. Tsvetaeva and is one of the key themes in the poet's work. In addition, along with through the poems dedicated to Moscow, in the general poetic heritage of Tsvetaeva, the more global theme of the Motherland is seen and revealed. The article considers Tsvetaeva's cycle “Poems about Moscow” in its original form, as it was first published in the Petrograd literary journal “Severnye Zapiski” in January 1917, because, in our opinion, this approach to its study is important for understanding the author's intention. The analysis of the biographical and everyday context of the creation of the cycle “Poems about Moscow”, based on documentary evidence preserved in letters, will allow us to understand what historical and cultural events influenced the formation of the poetic image of the city, as well as to identify which Moscow geographical and architectural symbols were transformed by Tsvetaeva into poetic symbols, how they reflect her personal experiences and inner world. Special attention is paid to the symbolism of Moscow religious buildings, which in Tsvetaeva's poetry become not only architectural monuments, but also symbols of spirituality and fortitude. In addition, the article examines the relationship between Tsvetaeva's personal perception of Moscow and the themes of cultural identity and historical sustainability, as well as the use of certain images and motifs to create a comprehensive portrait of the city, which becomes an integral part of her literary heritage as a Moscow poet.