Poetry by Liana Margiva

The merciless Dawn advanced
Sending stars in panicky retreat,
But one stubborn star kept shining
She was not in a hurry to flee.

She had no one to embrace her
Perhaps, dismayed by the treason,
The deceit of another star
She thought was her chosen one,
The one who was the light of her life.

She was waiting for the Sun to rise,
Longing to burn in its scorching inferno,
Disappear without a trace,
Mourning the loss of another
Who failed to live up to her dream.

But the sky was merciful that night,
Envisaging the senseless doom,
It cried out to Nature’s forces
To intervene on its behalf.

Behold, the dark clouds moved in from afar,
Hiding the silly star in their shade
As they shed bitter tears and pleaded
With the Sun to postpone its ascent
Until the love blaze of the martur
Reached the chosen one.

And the majestic Sun acceded
To their desperate plea,
Retreating in seclusion
Until the first blossom of Spring.

Oh, dear faraway star!
Could you also be in love?
Have you known the bitterness of treason?
Your wounded soul will take ages to heal.

Ask the Almighty for me, my distant friend
Why He fills our hearts with worthless people,
Sends us the pain that wouldn’t abate,
Sends us the love which tortures our souls
For many years to come?

By Liana Margiva

Translated from Russian by Anatol Kardiukov