"The Twelve" (poem by Mayakovsky)

"The Twelve" by Mayakovsky is a powerful modernist poem depicting a group of Soviet revolutionaries—specifically twelve soldiers—during the Russian Civil War. The poem uses symbolic imagery to explore themes of chaos, transformation, and the upheaval of old societal values. As the twelve march through war-torn streets, the poem reflects the revolutionary spirit, revolutionary violence, and the complex moral landscape of that tumultuous era. It combines vivid urban scenes with spiritual and political musings, capturing both the brutality and hope of revolutionary change, illustrating a moment of historic upheaval from a highly personal and poetic perspective.