#ASonnetADay – 66. “Tired with all these, for restful death I cry…”

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
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2 Comments

  1. JPCahill says:

    Wow. An ode to the 21st century if ever there was one. Takes the breath away.

  2. Andreas says:

    A very fine recording of the Shostakovich work noted by Father Z. can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dpf1C3ESWHM. Interestingly, Shostakovich was considered one of Stalin’s favorites for a time as he composed numerous grand works (especially symphonies) in praise of the Soviet Union. It was later thought that he did so only to survive, much as the composer William Byrd, a Catholic, survived the reign of Queen Elizabeth I by writing works that gave her and her court much pleasure. Still, there is great irony in that this sonnet was translated by Pasternak and put to music by Shostakovich in 1942; acts of great bravery as Stalin despised the works of Shakespeare.

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