Innokenty Annensky
Bright halo

Sonnet

The candles had long been flooded with
The wavering ashes of sunset streaks, but
The incense that swirled was still flowing,
And ever turning pale, the flowers shrank.

And dreams were so insane in the
Vaporous sea of prayers and tears,
On the waving halo of hair and
In the smoke of her black veil,

That in response the little light
Twinkled in the amethysts of her heavy
Earrings. A blue dream of fragrant

Censers dispersed then without trace...
Why then have I come to love for
Ever the veil and the bright halo?

Translated by R. H. Morrison