Marina Tsvetaeva
A singing line of posts...

Heart’s wave would not have foamed
So high, and turned to Spirit,
If it were not that the ancient mute
Rock of Fate so opposed it.
Hölderlin

A singing line of posts,
Holding up the sky,
Sending you my share
Of earthly dust.
                     The alley

Sighs – wire to pole –
Telegraph: love – you – ou –ou…

Beg you… (No printed form,
Can hold it! Simpler by wire!)
These – pillars, Atlases, that
Send celestial tracts
Racing…
                     Across telegraph
Posts: Fa – are – well…

Do you hear? The last severance,
Of ruined mouths: fo – or – give…
This – rigging, on seas of fields,
A calm Atlantic voyage:

Further, further – and fu – use…
With Ariadne: Re – ee – eturn

Turn back! Hospitals, gifts,
Doleful: don’t go!
These – wires of steel,
Wires – Aida singing

Receding…far off,
I conjure: Re – egret…

Pity! (In this chorus, how
Distinguish?) In the fading cry,
Reluctant passion –
Eurydice’s breath:

Over the thresh – h – hold
Evridiki: al – a – as,

Not – a –

Translated by A. S. Kline