Afanasy Fet
Never

I awoke. Yes, the roof of a coffin — I extend
My arms forcefully and call
For help. Yes, I remember those torments
Before death — yes, it was real! —
And without effort, as if it was a cobweb
I split apart the coffin.

And I stood up. How bright this winter light
In the vault’s entrance! Can I doubt it? —
I see snow. There’s no door in the vault.
It’s time to go home. How they’ll be amazed at home!
I’m familiar with this park. I can’t get lost.
But how everything has had time to change!

I hurry. Snowdrifts. A lifeless forest protrudes
With motionless branches into the ether.
Neither footsteps or sounds. All it quiet,
As in the realm of death of an enchanted world
And there’s my house — it’s ruined!
Stunned, I lose heart.

The village sleeps under a snowy shroud,
There’s no open path in the whole steppe.
Yes, that’s how it is: above the distant hills.
I have recognized the church with an ancient bell tower.
Like a frozen traveller in the snow,
It stands out in the cloudless distance.

With the snow there are neither winter birds nor midges.
I have understood it all now: the earth has long grown cold
And dead. For whom do I maintain
The breath in my chest? For whom did the grave
Return me? With what is my consciousness linked?
And what is its calling?

Where to go when there’s no one to embrace
Or when time is lost in space?
Return then, death, hasten to accept
The fateful burden of this final life.
And you, frozen corpse of Earth, fly,
Taking my corpse on the eternal voyage. 

Translated by John Cobley