Alexander Blok
Guardian Angel

I love You, My Guardian Angel, in gloom.
In gloom, that has followed me out of the womb.
Because you were once my fair gorgeous bride.
Because you have seen all the secrets I hide.
Because we are bound by secrets and night.
Because you’re my sister, my daughter, my bride.
Because we are destined to live a long life,
And more so, because we are — husband and wife!
Because of my chains and because of your spell,
And the family curse that still haunts us as well.
Because you don’t love what I love in this life.
Because I still grieve for the poor and deprived.
We have yet to find harmony, and I doubt we will.
Because I'd like to and I'm willing to kill —
Out of vengeance, the blinded men, full of evil,
Who have ridiculed me and belittled my people.
Who locked up the strong and free men in a jail,
And didn’t believe that my blaze would prevail.
Who want to deprive me of the light I envisioned
And purchase from me my canine submission...
Because I am weak and no longer as brave,
Because my ancestors were all merely slaves,
Because gentle poison has taken my life,
And no arm of mine could lift up a knife...
And also because I am weak, I confess,
For all your misfortunes and the strength you possess.
For all that had burned and was coated by lead —
That can never be taken and torn into shreds!
Together, we watched the dawn’s breaking rays —
And into this chasm, together, we gaze.
Two sides of one fortune, for you and for me:
We are slaves raging wild! Our spirits are free!
Be humble! Be daring! Stay here! Go away!
Is there fire or darkness ahead — who’s to say?
Where are we heading? What’s that call? What’s that cry?
Forever — together — it’s just you and I!
Will we rise from the dead? Or perish and die?

Translated by Andrey Kneller