Afanasy Fet
I’ll go along a familiar path to meet them...

I’ll go along a familiar path to meet them,
The skies that glow with such a delicate amber sunset —
Imperishable as paradise.
Far off, the fading edge of the world has curled away;
The evening coolness breathes and doesn’t breathe,
And the ripening ears barely sway.
No, I will go no farther: I’ll sit up in readiness
All night, all this night, under the canopy of oaks,
Looking into the face of dawn or along the grey road…
My soul is full again with such youthful
And infinite faith. In this silence
It seems my contented life has granted everything;
My soul asks nothing different of destiny.
My faithful dog has sat down at my feet,
And with a keen ear gently pricked up
Watches a beetle as it slowly crawls along.
But what do I hear? — In similar moments
Sounds resonate from afar, as well as images.
No, to be exact — from afar there reaches me
The impatient pacing of a familiar horse. 

Translated by John Cobley