Жемчужница и песчинка

Hey, hop! From branch to branch, from tree to tree!

How nice to travel in the morning light!

What grace to feel that you’re agile and free!

And ain’t my hopping – leaping like a fight?!

Hey, ho! You people of my native woods!

Out of your holes, let’s play – and – hide – and – seek!

Mice, hares, and moles, see how my tail protrudes!

See how I dance and laugh and tease and squeak!

I crack the nuts and hide the mushrooms brown;

I thread the beads of berries and of buds;

I don’t care much if they be lost or found;

It’s not the work of need, but of fne arts.

So long a day, so short a life, my Lord!

(See I’m no stranger to some serious talk!)

My vast eternal sea of rustling load

Lies wide and wavy up to sentry oak.

But then, oh hush, my humble, and behold:

Outside the forest sleeps the desert red;

And, far than that, a mighty rock and old

Like frozen thunder, bears its peaky head.

Charmed and entranced, I watch the clouds foat by,

Half scared, half anxious, eager and obsessed;

And, on the crowning peak, the highest high,

I recognize the Saturn – shaped black nest.

The sunset backcloth burns with magic fre

Of ancient signs no living – thing can tell.

Unable to submit or to retire,

I witness nature ready for the spell.

…And lo! The light is swiftly fading down;

The blistful Imdugood spreads whirling wing;

Across the sky fies roaring silence sound, —

And here comes His Majesty the King.

To Rev. Igor Tsvetkov

A naive prayer

You know I never pray aloud.

I hide my hope and faith.

And when I see a singing crowd,

Blush comes into my face.

You think me wrongfully acute,

Because You heard me tell

That shower and perfumes substitute

Me soul and spirit well.

I know I am a sinner, since

I doubt Our Father’s might;

And showing no concern just means

To show «folie» and spite.

You sealed me with severe look,

And I grew weak and meek.

A royal King of Eagles took

A fy – away from me.

Now I’m alone, alone again,

A doll with broken heart.

You still believe I cannot pray?

That’s why You set apart?

Now see me knealt from high above!

You’ll hear from down below:

«Oh, take me to your arms, my love,

For keen the wind doth blow!»

Прорицание

Мне волхвовать в коричневой пустыне,

Корой укрывшись светлой бересты.