Skip to content

Give me bitter years of sickness, Suffocation, insomnia…

“Give me bitter years of sickness, Suffocation, insomnia, fever, Take my child and my lover, And my mysterious gift of song This I pray at your liturgy After so many tormented days, So that the stormcloud over darkened Russia Might become a cloud of glorious rays.” quote by Anna Akhmatova
Download Open image
“Give me bitter years of sickness, Suffocation, insomnia, fever, Take my child and my lover, And my mysterious gift of song This I pray at your liturgy After so many tormented days, So that the stormcloud over darkened Russia Might become a cloud of glorious rays.”

Anna Akhmatova

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

She pleads for relief from suffering, hoping hardship will transform into hope.

In simple terms: Suffering turned into hope through prayer.

Key Takeaway

Seek meaning in hardship.

Themes

suffering hope prayer transformation

Mood

somber hopeful

Type

poetic spiritual

When to use this quote

  • war trauma
  • personal loss
  • creative inspiration

Key Concepts

spiritual resilience artistic expression

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does “mysterious gift of song” symbolize?
  • How can art serve as a conduit for healing?
A Different Perspective

Hope may not materialize for everyone.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Anna Akhmatova

Explore all 118 Anna Akhmatova quotes

More Bitter quotes

Browse all 1,923 Bitter quotes