Marina Tsvetaeva
Insomnia. 1. In a shady ring my eyes...

1

In a shady ring my eyes
She surrounded — insomnia.
With a shady wreath insomnia
Did my eyes bind.

At night — the same!
To idols don't pray.
Idol-worshipper — I'll give
Your secret away.

To you — day's not enough,
Fire of sun above!

You pale-faced one, wear
My rings' pair!
You screamed — and proclaimed
The wreath of shade.

Enough — did you — call me?
Enough — did you — sleep with me?

People bow to you.
Light in face you'll lie.
I'll be reader to you,
I, insomnia:

Sleep, soothed,
Sleep, rewarded one,
Sleep, wreathed,
Woman.

That - you would sleep — easy,
I will sing — to thee:

"Never-silent one,
Go to sleep, my girl,
You the sleepless one,
Sleep, my little pearl."

And to whom we didn't write letters so,
And to whom we did not vow..
Sleep.

Here now parted are
The inseparable.
Here released from arms
Are your little arms.
Here you're tormented,
My dear tormentess.

Sleep's — holy.
All — sleep.
Wreath's — gone.

Translated by Ilya Shambat