Few of Andrei Sen-Senkov's patients and colleagues know of his status as
one of Russia's better-known contemporary poets, but he doesn't lose
much sleep over this. Indeed, in person Sen-Senkov exhibits none of the
pathos of the Inspired Lyricist. He is just as likely to complain about
the weather, bemoan the latest political or natural disaster, or exclaim
breathlessly over a newly discovered jazz musician as he is to discuss
poetry. And when you read his poems, it all makes sense: for Sen-Senkov,
anything can be poetry, everything is poetry.
Born in 1968 in Dushanbe (now capital of Tajikistan), Sen-Senkov moved
to central Russia following the break-up of the Soviet Union. He moved
to Moscow in the beginning of the 2000s and joined the city's lively
literary scene, although he works primarily as a gynecologist. His
involvement in literary life has been as eclectic and wide-ranging as
his choice of subjects: a tireless advocate of artistic innovation,
Sen-Senkov participates in events devoted to visual poetry, sound
poetry, video poetry, and other multidisciplinary endeavors, as well as
traditional poetry readings.
Sen-Senkov's poetry comes across easily and well in translation. Some of
his imaginative leaps are more obscure than others, but this only
increases the pleasure gained from following them. As a poet he is
anti-hermetic--he writes to be understood, and he is generous in sharing
his observations. Translators and English-language readers alike can
delight in the fact that the intuitive logic of his imagination
essentially transcends linguistic boundaries.
