Afanasy Fet
Spring

I come again with greetings new,
to tell you day is well begun;
to say the leaves are fresh with dew
and dappled in the early sun;

to tell you how the forest stirs
in every branch of every brake,
and what an April thirst is hers,
with every whistling bird awake;

to say, as yesterday, once more,
with love as passionate and true,
my heart is ready as before
for serving happiness and you;

to tell how over every thing
delight is blowing on the air –
I know not yet what I shall sing;
I only know the song is there.

Translated by Frances Cornford and Esther Polianowsky Salaman