Alexander Blok
The Guardian Angel

I love you, my Guardian Angel, you are
A sparkle in darkness, my guiding star.

I love you because you're my fair bride,
Because of my secrets you have deprived.

Because we are bound by secret and night,
Because you're my mother, my daughter, my bride.

I love you because we are destined in life
To be ever together as husband and wife.

I love you for prayers of yours and my chains
And for the family cursers and pains.

I love you for hating whatever I do
Like helping the poor whom I give their due.

I love you, because we just we can't live at one,
Because I can kill a detestable man.

I'd kill in revenge for the weak and the blind,
The one who abased me and people of mine.

The one who has jailed the strong and the free,
Who didn"t believe in my fire and me.

Who wants to deprive me of light of the day
And purchase submission from me in some way.

I love you because I am weak, I admit
my ancestors were of servile breed.

The poison of kindness has taken my life,
I cannot resort to the use of a knife...

I love you because I am weak, I believe
You"re strong, and you"ve known the savour of grief.

For what is burnt down and coated with lead
Cannot be torn and stamped out, you bet!

We witnessed this sunset, and now you and I
Are watching this bottomless abyss, oh my!

Dual bidding of destiny — how can it be ?
We are vicious slaves! Our souls are free!


Be humble and daring! Don't go! Get away!
What's up ahead? Is it night or day?

Where are we going? Who calls? Who will cry?
Together — forever — constrained — you and I!

Shall we revive? Shall we perish and die?

Translated by Alec Vagapov