Nikoloz (Tato) Baratashvili  (1817-1844) was a Georgian poet, whose works are considered to be the high point of Georgian romanticism. In the opinion of Ilia Chavchavadze, the works of Nikoloz Baratashvili mark the introduction of Europeanism into the Georgian literature.One of the greatest Georgian Romantic poets, often described as the “Georgian Byron.” He was born on 4 December 1817 in Tbilisi, to the family of impoverished aristocrat who was a loyal servant of the emperor, on his mother's side Efemia, the sister of Grigol Orbeliani, was the granddaughter of King Erekle II. His mother inspired him with a love of literature and the young Baratashvili was influenced by the circle of famous Georgian writers and statesmen who frequented their house in Tbilisi. He was taught by Solomon Dodashvili, who influenced him greatly, in a Tbilisi gymnasium from 1827-1835.
Because his family had little money, he was unable to fulfill his desire to continue his education in Russia. Due to a bodily defect, he also was unable to march in the front-line forces, as he wished to do. With the threat of poverty looming over his family, he was forced to start working as an ordinary clerk. Baratashvili also had a dramatic private life, including intense involvement with Ekaterine Chavchavadze. All this left deep marks on the poet’s soul, as is reflected in his private letters.In 1844, he was transferred to Ganja as deputy governor of that province where he became seriously ill with of malaria and at the age of 27 On 21 October died. His poetry was mostly unpublished and unnoticed by the time he died, but as poems were published posthumously, he came to be idolized. His remains were brought back to Georgia in 1893 and his funeral turned into a great national celebration. Since 1938 his ashes have lain in the Mtastminda  pantheon. At 22, he wrote his longest poem, Bedi kartlisa, in which he lamented the tragic fate of his native land. A key insight into the weltanschauung of N. Baratashvili can be found in his poem “Fate of Georgia” (1839). This poem is based on a real historical event: the ruining of Tbilisi by Aga-Mohamed Khan in 1795. However, national problems considered in this work are viewed with a modern approach; the poem considers not only Georgia’s past, but also its future in the aftermath of the failed revolt of 1832. In this poem, Erekle II, a realist politician, realizes Georgia should join with Russia, and that this event is inevitable. Another character, Solomon Leonidze, thinks that this will result in the loss of Georgia’s national identity. The sympathies of the poet and reader both fall on Solomon’s side, but the objectively rational decision of the king prevails. Despite leaving only some 40 poems and lyrics, Baratashvili is considered the preeminent poet of Georgian romanticism. His ingenuous squib portrayed a complex inner world of the human soul. The feeling of loneliness run thorough his early poems (Twilight over the Mtatsminda, 1836, and Reflections on the Kura's Banks, 1837) and reached its climax in the poem Lonely Soul (1839). In his poems, Baratashvili sang of high moral ideals and sought his own path to improve society. The poet's struggle against the powers of pessimism and darkness found expression in one of his best poems, Merani, which has been influential on later Georgian poets. With its mystical vision of the future, it also served as a symbol of progress and eternal movement forward. “Merani” is a prominent work of Georgian romanticism both from an ethical-philosophical view, and from an artistic-aesthetic point of view.

Thy features every vision of my sleep adorn,
And when I wake the eyelash of my eyes adorn.
Thy willing slave, devoted am I e'er to thee,
Thou mayest slay me, yet such death is life to me.
Thou art the sweetest flower that ever grew for me.
Thy breath the fragrance of the rose does seem to me.
Thou art the gleaming star that lights the dark for me.
Thy features every vision of my sleep adorn,
And when I wake the eyelash of my eyes adorn.
Thy slender waist's a graceful aloe branch to me.
The girdle round it twined a rainbow seems to me.
Thy sparkling eyes dark flashing lightning seem to me.
Thy snow-white bosom is a realm of bliss to me!
The echo of thy voice is music sweet to me.
Thy features every vision of my sleep adorn,
And when I wake the eyelash of my eyes adorn.
My ways in life so manifold all lead to thee!
Before my every thought and dream thy face I see!
What makes my heart a flaming ball? O it is thee!
Let me in one long kiss draw thy whole soul to me!
The very essence of my joy thou art to me.
Thy features every vision of my sleep adorn,
And when I wake the eyelash of my eyes adorn.
In Ortachala thou canst see, dear, what I am:
A gallant knight of wondrous strength and might I am;
The champion in every contest fair I am.
With bowl in hand a tamada of skill I am.
O wouldst thou come and see but once how brave I am
And then perhaps thou'lt say how bold and dear I am-
Thy features every vision of my sleep adorn,
And when I wake the eyelash of my eyes adorn.

Thy saintly face
In beauteous grace
Doth shine with virgin beauty sweet.
I humbly pray
And homage pay,
O'erwhelmed by sorrow at thy feet.
In joy I gaze,
In grief I gaze,
Oh, let me gaze thus e'er on thee.
Oh, let me sleep
In slumber deep,
My country's downfall not to see!
A bower sublime,
This realm of thine;
Thy glory o'er it shines no more!
No splendour bright
Doth pierce with light
The gloom that shrouds its fame of yore!
Though like a dream,
A flashing gleam
A glorious sunset hid by night,
Thy past inspires
And kindles fires
In souls devoid of joy and light!
Though grieved and mute,
In solitude,
Hear thou my prayer of deep distress...
Thy land restore
To joy once more,
And once again thy country bless.
Let valour grand
Inspire thy land
And make it as of yore renowned
With faith divine
And language fine,
With knowledge deep and wisdom crowned!
Let victory's cry,
Resounding high,
Redeem thy might of former time!
With eager ear
We crave to hear
Great Rustaveli's word sublime!
We beg of thee
To make us free
And lead us on to liberty...
But woe, thy eyes
See but the skies
And not thy son in slavery!
Thus humbled low,
Thy son below,
A wretch unmanned, is stricken mute!
All hopes have fled,
All joy is dead:
By cruel despair I stand subdued!
Woe if thy name
And gloried fame
Will never rise again to bloom...
Perchance what fell
Was hurled to hell
By ravens black to death and doom!
A world of lies
Where honour dies,
And all that fades ne'er revives...
Of glory's flame
That crowned thy name
Is this the relic that survives?
Midst grass and weeds
And tangled reeds
The temple's ruins stand grim and tall,
Where Tamari's face
In hallowed grace
Is traced upon a crumbling wall!

Snow fell on winter gardens,
a coffin was brought out
and the standards unfolded
caught by the dishevelled breeze.
The roadway was desolate,
without form and without shape.
One more coffin was brought out…
The raven's exhortation:
Let the bells toll! Bury them!
Snow fell on winter gardens.

Galaktion Tabidze was born in Georgia, in 1892. Much of his work is influenced by Symbolists, Tablize (who survived the purges of the '30s) was one of the most recognizable Georgian poets of the the early 20th Century, especially by the newly Sovietization of Georgia in 1921, he was recognized by some of the top Communist Leaders of that time.

One of his most influential books was called, "Artistic Flowers" (1919)

During that time of the Communist occupation of Georgia, this meant that they had to recognize the people who were already shown to be of popularity, especially Modernists such as Tabidze, and show them more of a Socialistic realism view on life. Tabidze would often, in future works, simulate, and often times parody these changes. Which meant that he had to trick those who read his work as being for Socialism and not Modernism. A lot of people in his time/government did misinterpret his work.

Tabidze would often depict his frustration and suffering due to the dramatic spiritual statement, his faithlessness and his inner conflict.

He died in 1959.


-----------------------------------------------------------------


Galagtion Tabidze (1892-1959). Georgian poet. Born in the village of Chkviisi, he studied at the Tbilisi Theological Seminary, but became involved in revolutionary circles. In 1908, he published his first writings and later traveled to Russia and Europe, where he was influenced by the symbolists. A remarkably talented poet, he authored thousands of poems that established him as one of the greatest Georgian poets and accorded him the rare honor of being known simply as Galaktion. Among his most famous poems are Usikvarulod, Me da Ghame, Kari hkris, Droshebi chkara, Sasaplaoni, etc. Although he survived the Stalinist purges, the deaths of his wife and friends plunged him into depression and alcoholism. He was eventually placed in a psychiatric hospital but jumped to his death from the hospital window in 1959.

The sea grew gray in the coming night.
You stood on the shore like a guiding light.
Your beauty lashed at me like fire,
Sweet adoration and desire.
A ship at sea enthralls the sight
As love — the heart with sweet delight.
I watched the fading ship depart…
I felt a pain... pain in my heart.
The vessel bore with her the fire
And ecstasy of sweet desire.