The old woman

The Old Woman is a short philosophical prose poem by Ivan Turgenev, first published as part of his late collection Poems in Prose. In this haunting allegory, a solitary traveler crosses an endless plain while being pursued by a mysterious blind old woman. As he tries to escape her presence, he gradually realizes that she is not merely a person but the embodiment of fate itself - an inescapable force guiding him toward his predetermined end. Through dreamlike imagery, symbolism, and psychological tension, Turgenev explores themes of mortality, destiny, and the limits of human freedom. Despite its brevity, the piece creates a powerful atmosphere of dread and inevitability, making it one of the most memorable works in Poems in Prose.