Marina Tsvetaeva
Parting 1. Tower-bell striking...

1

Tower-bell striking
There in the Kremlin.
Where on the earth is,
Where —

Fortress of mine,
Meekness of mine,
Valor of mine,
Holy of mine.

Tower-bell striking,
Left-behind striking.
Where on the earth is —
My
Home,
My — dream,
My — laugh,
My — light,
Of narrow soles — a print.

As if a hand
Cast down the striking —
Into the night.

— My downcast one!

Translated by Sibelan Forrester