Oh, to hell with this storm, damn this snow and hail –
pounding on the rooftop, driving in white nails!
But me – I’m not frightened, and I know my fate:
my wastrel heart has nailed me to you – nailed us tight!
by Сергей Александрович Есенин (Sergei Alexandrovich Yesenin)
a.k.a. Sergey Yesenin / Esenin
(1925)
translated by Boris Dralyuk
Prayers like gravel
flung at the sky’s
window, hoping to attract
the loved one’s
attention. But without
visible plaits to let
down for the believer
to climb up,
to what purpose open
that far casement?
I would
have refrained long since
but that peering once
through my locked fingers
I thought that I detected
the movement of a curtain.
by R. S. Thomas
from Experimenting with an Amen (1986).
You stood before me
so still and quiet.
Your gaze was languid
and full of feeling.
It summoned memories
of days so lovely…
It was the last
such day you gave me.
Now you have vanished,
a quiet angel;
your grave is peaceful,
as calm as Eden!
There rest all earthly
recollections,
There rest all holy
Thoughts of heaven.
Heavenly stars,
quiet night!
by Василий Андреевич Жуковский (Vasily Andreyevich Zhukovsky)
(1823)
translated by Boris Dralyuk
Fun fact: Ivan Bunin, the Nobel Prize winning Russian emigre author, is related to him.
Rambling At The Bridge Head 