There is analyzed and interpreted the poem by V. Khodasevich “Ballad” (1921) in the light of the modern conception of the literary process of the XX century. There is put the question about the specificity of neotraditionalism as one of the non-classic forms of correlation with the culture tradition, as well as considered the sphere of poetology as an important element of the art philosophy. There is made the attempt to trace some features of the non-classical tradition-centeredness by the material of a single poetic text devoted to the description of a creative act.