A search for Chekhov...

[Justin Weir]

One of the students here is trying to identify a reference to Chekhov. Can
anyone help him out? You may reply to him directly off list.

 Thanks,
Justin Weir

--- Forwarded Message from "Martin A. Stibolt" <mstibolt at reed.edu> ---

>Date: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 11:37:52 -0800 (PST)
>From: "Martin A. Stibolt" <mstibolt at reed.edu>
>To: justin.weir at directory.reed.edu
>Subject: A search for Chekov...

Justin,

I am trying to place the reference to a short story by Chekov that is
alluded to in a poem I am analyzing.  The citation is as follows:

Maryushka the beekeeper's
widow,
though three years mad,
writes daily letters
to her son.  Semyon tran-
scribes them.  The pages
are smudged by his hands,
stained with
dregs of tea:
"My dearest Vanushka,
Sofia Agrippina's ill
again.  The master
asks for you.  Wood
is dear.  The cold
is early.  Poor
Sofia Agrippina!
The foreign doctor
gave her salts
but Semyon says her icon
candle guttered
St. John's eve.  I am afraid,
Vanya.  When she's ill,
the master likes to have
your sister flogged.
She means no harm.
The rye is gray
this time of year.
When it is bad, Vanya,
I go into the night
and the night eats me."

Again, thanks

Sincerely,
Martin A. Stibolt