Fyodor Sologub
Northern Triolets

(i.)

Thou earth with guile and irksome woe,
Art yet a mother unto me!
Mute mother mine, I love thee so,
Thou earth with guile and irksome woe!
How sweet in earth's embrace to be,
Nestling to her when May's aglow!
Thou earth with guile and irksome woe,
Art yet a mother unto me!

(ii.)

The earth, the earth, ye men, revere,
Green secrets of its moistened weeds,
Its secret ordinance I hear:
— The earth, the earth, ye men, revere,
E'en its delights, where venom breeds! -
Earthy, untaught, I hold it dear.
The earth, the earth, ye men, revere,
Green secrets of its moistened weeds.

(iii.)

Quivers the heart with joyousness,
North afresh, return of rain,
Slender, tender moss again, -
Despair is one with joyousness
And torment with a sweet caress, -
Soft visions of a wooded lane,
And trembles the soul with joyousness, -
Beloved North ! Beloved rain!

(iv.)

Church-spire, crucifix, and sky,
And around, the sorrowing fields, —
What more peace and radiance wields
Than this sheen of living sky?
And, my friend, I would descry
Where in holier fashion yields
To the glad secrecies on high
This soft legend of the fields!

(v.)

What delight, — from place to place
With uncovered feet to fare
And a scanty scrip to bear!
What delight, — from place to place
With austere and humble grace
To entwine a tuneful air
What delight, — from place to place
With uncovered feet to fare!

Translated by Paul Selver