Poem Analysis - Its Settled

Introduction: A Tone of Finality and Nostalgia

Sergei Yesenin's poem "it's settled" captures a sense of irreversible departure and melancholy. The tone shifts between resignation and sorrow, as the speaker acknowledges his permanent separation from his rural past and embraces a grim urban fate. The repeated refrain about his decaying home and dead dog deepens the mood of loss, while vivid imagery of Moscow contrasts nostalgia with harsh reality.

Historical Context: Yesenin's Urban-Rural Divide

Born in rural Russia, Yesenin often explored themes of displacement and modernity in his work. The poem reflects the tension between his peasant roots and the allure (or corruption) of city life, mirroring early 20th-century Russia's rapid urbanization. The "crooked streets of Moscow" symbolize both opportunity and decay, a duality central to Yesenin's conflicted identity.

Theme 1: Irreversible Change and Loss

The poem centers on the inevitability of change. The opening line—"Yes! It's settled! Now and for ever"—declares an unalterable break from the speaker's past. Images like the "winged leaves of poplars" and the sagging house evoke a vanished rural idyll, while the dog's death underscores finality. The speaker's acceptance of a doomed fate in Moscow reinforces the theme of irreversible transformation.

Theme 2: Alienation in the Urban Landscape

Moscow is depicted as both mesmerizing and oppressive. The "decrepit buildings" and "sinister den" reflect the speaker's alienation, while his interactions with prostitutes and thieves suggest a desperate search for connection. The moonlight simile—"Like hell in the dark sky of blue"—hints at moral decay, framing the city as a place where the speaker feels both drawn and doomed.

Theme 3: Self-Worth and Futility

The speaker's declaration—"Just like you, I am totally worthless"—reveals a crisis of identity tied to his displacement. His fast heartbeat and "pointless" words mirror his existential confusion. The refrain about dying "with compassions" suggests a lingering empathy, yet his actions (drinking, carousing) imply a surrender to futility, blurring the line between self-awareness and self-destruction.

Symbolism: Home, Dog, and Moscow

The decaying house and dead dog symbolize the erasure of the speaker's past and stability. In contrast, Moscow's "temple domes" and "elm-trees" offer fleeting beauty but no solace. The "crooked streets" embody moral and physical disorientation, reinforcing the poem's tension between nostalgia and despair.

Conclusion: A Haunting Elegy for the Past

Yesenin's poem is a poignant meditation on loss and adaptation. The recurring motifs of home and urban decay underscore the speaker's fractured identity, while the resigned tone amplifies the tragedy of his acceptance. Ultimately, the poem mourns not just a place, but a vanishing way of life—and the self that vanished with it.