Poetry Train Monday - 155 - And I Lie Wordless at the Feet

In keeping with my love of all things Russian, and because these lines could easily be spoken by my fictional character Scorpius as an adult (as opposed to the boy Scorpius, whom I'm currently writing about in serial form for Weekend Writer's Retreat), I give you this translated poem by Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Blok.















And I Lie Wordless at the Feet


And I lie wordless at the feet
Of her who is my heart's desire
My secret love; a whitewinged fire
Swift storms across the threshold sweep

What pain, what sweet delight, what bliss
To speak your tender name, to kiss
Your train by stealth, near you to linger
While blizzards sing, while loudly sing they!

In its dark prison cell benighted
The heart in drunken rapture reels
Cold, snowy, blooms your lashes lightly
Your peaceful, silk-soft lashes seal

Like one by wild winds overpowered
That as he runs begin to blow
I seem to see a lifeless flower
Before me rise from out the snow

And oft, however sadly, gently
The name of my Snow Maiden slips
Like soft snow from a frozen petal
In secret from my trembling lips

- Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Blok

Illustration by Margaret Tarrant

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Naquillity says Thanks for sharing this wonderful poem. It's great.

Ms Snarky Pants says That's beautiful!

Michelle Helliwell says That was beautiful! I love poetry - my favorites tend to be English Renaissance stuff, but I refuse to be limited!!!