Zinaida Gippius
It

Brightly the hooves clatter...
What is it, by the bridge?
All erased, all is forgotten,
In the secret of thoughts, a void...
I only listen to the hooves,
to the din and cries by the bridge.

It starts running stoutly, huddling,
The multilegged It.
Entrancing — and boring.
Good — and it matters not.
And I follow, watch how stoutly
The formidable It rushes on.

It rolls and clamours,
Chomping and chewing,
Washing off, eroding everything.
What has my soul lived on.
The soul enters a stranger’s body
Pours in — and dies.

The ringing hooves are greedy,
It is savage, loud and dark.
There — revels melded with blood,
Body weaved into body...
All is broken, all forgotten,
Drink the new wine!
The ringing hooves are greedy,
Whatever happens — matters not.

Translated by Linda Southby