Aleksey Pleshcheyev
The Christ-child and the hebrew children

The Christ-child had a garden,
And many roses He planted therein;
He had three times a day watered them,
In order to weave for Himself a garland later on.

When those roses were in full bloom,
He called the Hebrew children ;
They plucked off every flower,
And the whole garden was devastated.

— "How wilt Thou weave a garland for Thyself?
In Thy garden there are no more roses!"
— "You forgot that the thorns
Remained for Me," said Christ.

And from the thorns they wove
A spiny garland for Him —
And drops of blood, instead of roses,
Adorned His brow.

Translated by B. A. Rudzinsky