Snow is falling at Yasnaya's Great Pond,
All covered with ripples of greynessÖ
And only my feelings can truly respond
To the pond's silent message of stillness.

Snow -- in October -- lies everywhere deepÖ
The birches are decked out in whitenessÖ
Have the field-grasses started their long winter's sleep,
Or is Fall showing Winter politeness?

Peace reigns in the soul, while on every tree
Beauty rests in a silent Nirvana,
And I feel God is here and is talking with me
In the stillness of Yasnaya Polyana.

Great Pond, Yasnaya Polyana
2 October 1998

Translated from the Russian by John Woodsworth
14 November 2001
 
 

At the Great Pond II
(U Bol'shogo pruda II)

Sunlight is pouring on Yasnaya's Great Pond,
All covered with water-bright mirrorÖ
And only my vision can truly respond
To a radiance that grows ever clearer.

We thank you, dear sunshine, for coming today
After yesterday's snowstorm untimelyÖ
Your radiance is seen and enlightens our wayÖ
What an ecstasy, blest so sublimely!

In gloom or in sunshine, all here is just right,
Where peace lies in Spirit's coronaÖ
And I feel in my heart God's own peace-bearing light,
In my own inner Yasnaya Polyana.

Great Pond, Yasnaya Polyana
3 October 1998

Translated from the Russian by John Woodsworth
15 November 2001
 

 
Not far from the Kievski underground station
On a sidewalk a pigeon lay, having just died.
A feather is all that remains of the mishap...
The body was already shoved to one side.

A ragged-clothed lady stands in the station,
A ball of fur rests on her blouse of old silk...
The ball gives a mew -- it's a newly-born kitten...
It's probably wondering: now where is my milk?

Are our hopes for happiness slain like the pigeon?
Do we shove our faith in good off to one side?
Our hope is no pigeon, but a powerful phoenix --
It will rise once again to its glory and pride!

And are we not famished for food of the spirit?
Do we mew and cry when life's evils appear
To crush us?  But then let us turn to our Maker!
As a mother He comforts His children so dear.

But we can still sing, for our hope is well-founded
That faith here in Russia will rise like a dove:
To the brand-name of "Faith" on the door to the station
Are thoughtfully added the words "hope and love".
 
 

Moscow
26 September 1998

In conjunction with the "Faith, Hope and Love" Day in Russia (30 September), of which the author was unaware when he wrote this poem.  See I Corinthians 13:13.
 

Translated from the Russian by John Woodsworth
15 June 2002