Tarkovsky Arseny Alexandrovich

Arseny Alexandrovich Tarkovsky was a Russian Soviet poet and translator, a representative of neo‑acmeism.

Key milestones in his biography

He was born on June 12 (25), 1907, in Yelisavetgrad (now Kropyvnytskyi, Ukraine) into a family that valued literature and theatre. His father, Alexander Karlovich Tarkovsky, was a journalist and writer; he introduced his son to poetry from an early age.
He studied at the Higher State Literary Courses in Moscow. In the 1920s, he collaborated with the newspaper “Gudok” and published feuilletons and fables (including under the pseudonym Taras Podkova).
All‑Union Radio. In the early 1930s, Tarkovsky worked there as a senior instructor‑consultant for artistic radio broadcasting and wrote plays for radio productions. For example, the radio play “Glass” was broadcast on January 3, 1932.
Union of Writers of the USSR. In 1940, Tarkovsky was admitted to the Writers’ Union — this was a key professional organization that determined opportunities for publication, business trips, and participation in events. The poet ran a poetry studio at the Moscow branch of the Writers’ Union in 1966–1967.
During the Great Patriotic War, he was a war correspondent, took part in battles, and was awarded the Order of the Red Star.
For a long time, he was primarily known as a translator of Eastern and national languages (including translating Turkmen, Karakalpak, and Georgian poetry). His own poems were rarely published for a long time.
His first book of poems, “Poems,” was published only in 1974, when the poet was already over 60.
He died on May 27, 1989, in Moscow, and was buried in Peredelkino. He was posthumously awarded the USSR State Prize.

Creativity and features of poetics

Tarkovsky is often called "the last poet of the Silver Age": he combined the traditions of the early 20th century with his own strict and philosophical voice. His poems contain many reflections on time, fate, memory, and man's connection with history and the cosmos. Famous poems include "Eurydice", "Night Rain", and "Star Catalog".

Iconic poems: "Eurydice", "Night Rain", "Star Catalog", "Summer has passed...".

Arseny Tarkovsky’s poems are featured in the films of his son, director Andrei Tarkovsky — for example, in the movies *Mirror*, *Stalker*, and *Nostalgia*.

Family and connections

Father of film director Andrei Tarkovsky and art historian Marina Tarkovskaya..
He was friends with Anna Akhmatova and was connected through his creative circle and correspondence with the major poets of his time.

Awards

Order of the Red Star,
Order of Friendship of Peoples,
USSR State Prize (posthumously).