alexander sergeyevich esenin-volpin (also written ésénine-volpine and yessenin-volpin in his french and english publications; ; may 12, 1924 march 16, 2016) was a soviet-born american poet and mathematician. he was a known dissident, political prisoner and a leader of the soviet human rights movement. he spent a total of fourteen years incarcerated and repressed by the soviet authorities in prisons, psikhushkas and exile. he worked at boston university.