A line is a fuse that's lit. The line smolders, the rhyme explodes – and by a stanza a city is blown to bits. Vladimir Mayakovsky

The Russian poet and playwright was born on this day in 1893.

Vladimir Vladimirovich Mayakovsky (Влади́мир Влади́мирович Маяко́вский) (July 19 [O.S. July 7] 1893 – April 14, 1930) was a Russian and Soviet poet and playwright. He is among the foremost representatives of early-20th century Russian Futurism.