Innokenty Annensky
The steel cicada

I knew that Anguish would
Return and stay with me.
It will tinkle and shut
With the watchmaker’s door.

He who has opened the door to it
Will link and again unlink the
Palpitation of the steel heart
With the chirring of the wings...

Cicadas impatiently beat with
Eager wings: are they joyful with
Approaching happiness or are
They summoning the torment’s end?

They have so much to
Say, so far to go...
Alas, cicada, our
Paths lie apart.

Here you and I are only a
Miracle, we have to live
Now only a minute — until
The door is thrown open...

It will tinkle and shut, and
You will be so distant...
Silently Anguish will return
Now and will stay with me.

Translated by R. H. Morrison