A heavy shroud is placed onto the ground,
The bells are droning in a solemn show,
The spirit is again confused and troubled
By weary boredom of the Tsarskoe Selo.
Five years have passed. And all is dumb and dead here,
The world has reached the end, it seems.
The theme exhausted for all time is set here,
The palace rests now in a mortal dream.
На землю саван тягостный возложен,
Торжественно гудят колокола,
И снова дух смятен и потревожен
Истомой скуки Царского Села.
Пять лет прошло. Здесь все мертво и немо,
Как будто мира наступил конец.
Как навсегда исчерпанная тема,
В смертельном сне покоится дворец.
«Along my street for so many years / I hear steps — my friends are slowly leaving. / The slow leaving of my dear friends / Is welcomed by the darkness of the evening. Oh, Solitude, your nature is so stern. / While catching sunshine with your iron compass / You close the circle with a...»
«It swept, it swept around the land / As snow was swirling. / A candle was burning on the desk, / A candle burning. As swarms of midges in the dark / To a fire flutter, / Blew flakes of snow from the park / ‘gainst window shutter. The storm was drawing on the glass / Small darts a...»
«...No grass ever grows / Making baskets for us / Is their lives’ sole purpose — / Making baskets from the straw, / Weightless basket service. / On the moon, twilight looms / Houses are neater / On the moon, no homes, / Only pigeon quarters / Bluish homes — bluish homes...»
«Children’s stories — are all I shall read; / Children’s fancies — are all I shall cherish; / All grown-up matters wither and perish; / Down, sadness, I’ll rise up and lead! / / I am tired of living — to death. / No longer life’s beauties are welcomed. / But I love my m...»