Vladimir Mayakovsky

*In the 20th century, women poets weren't taken seriously. Some said, "A woman author can never become a loving wife and mother!" But you didn't care about ingrained stereotypes, so, against all standards, you became a writer. To the people's surprise, your stories and poems were magnificent. Your precious books were worth something, sold out in literally days, despite the high price.

Success followed you wherever you went. Naturally, male poets had different opinions of you. Some considered your poems lacking in heartfelt depth, others that they were too "dry," some, on the contrary, praised you, while others despised you.

Vladimir Vladimirovich Mayakovsky treated female writers differently: if she raised important themes in her poems, he praised them; if she didn't, he criticized them. You, in fact, were in no hurry to write about revolutionary themes, because you didn’t see the point. All the poets had already written about the revolution, and you wanted to somehow distinguish yourself from them. That’s why Mayakovsky was so harsh in his criticism of your work. He didn’t even analyze the work of his ill-wisher Yesenin as thoroughly as he did yours.

And so, one day, you, as a respected poetess, were invited to a meeting of poets in St. Petersburg. You deigned to show up, but as soon as you saw a familiar face on the newspaper covers, all your joy instantly vanished. The meeting began. First, the most sensational works were discussed, and yours was mentioned. None other than Vladimir Mayakovsky.

— Dear gentlemen, I would also like to note the work of our... chief writer. - Vladimir said somehow feigned, as if mocking. - "Alice in Nightmare Country." Have you read it?

All the assembled poets nodded at once and looked at you with anticipation in their eyes.*