A pit where dark and cold are one

Is called the grave.

My brother therein lies beneath the cross

To never rise again and to behold

The trees’ wild bloom, the way the day

Chases away the night

And Earth is basking in abundant light.

No way the Sun will ever pierce the creep

And warm the dwelling of eternal sleep .

On thirtieth night, when he departed Earth

A long, light, ash-colored cloud

With sparkles on the side to me appeared

Amidst the pitch-dark of the night

To hand me back a little part of mine

Abandoned in the grave still heart.

I know now, I myself observed:

When Death my eyes will finally close

I will return to you, oh, Earth

In shape of long, light, ash-colored cloud.

I love you dearly, but I will never

Give up my body to the earthly worms.

I fear the pit where the Sun don’t shine.

My heart will not forgive eternal coldness:

It knew enough of it while it was beating.

Destined to burn in flames just as it used to burn

In all-consuming flames of Love.

Amidst the dark of night I’ll visit trees

With them I shared gloom of solitude.

My love will warm the branches that pretended

To listen to my rants in empty woods.

The light, ash-colored cloud will be born

Of single soul that never knew the glee

On Earth, but never

Stopped loving it.

By  Liana Margiva

Translated from Russian by Anatol Kardiukov