Sophia Parnok
My unglorious day is waning...

My unglorious day is waning,
Finally the end has come…
Oh, my ash-tree ice! My verses,
Light-transparent frigid ones!

I do not intend to leave my
Useless goods to anyone.
I shine up the crystal and the
Silver for myself alone.

And my icon lamp is burning,
Getting rosy from inside…
Well, and you who do not need it,
From my feast just hide your eyes…

It’s the arctic here. With reason
I keep warm as daylight wanes
With this secret heat, emitted
From a glassy-surfaced blaze.

Translated by Diana Lewis Burgin