Mary Magdalene beat her breasts and sobbed, His dear disciple, stone-faced, stared. His mother stood apart. No other looked into her secret eyes. Nob… - Anna Akhmatova

No other looked into her secret eyes.
Nobody dared.

For some the wind can fleshly blow, for some the sunlight fade at ease, but we, made partners in our dread, hear but the grating of the keys, and heavy-booted soldiers' tread. As if for early mass, we rose and each day walked the wilderness, trudging through silent street and square, to congregate, less live than dead.

I have lit my treasured candles, one by one, to hallow this night. With you, who do not come, I wait the birth of the year. Dear God! the flame has drowned in crystal, and the wine, like poison, burns Old malice bites the air, old ravings rave again, though the hour has not yet struck.

سال های تلخ بیماری نصیبم کن،
خفقان ، بی خوابی ، تب ،
فرزندم را بگیر و یارم را ،
موهبت اسرارآمیز شعرسرایی را ،
اما ، باز ، از پس این همه روزهای فرساینده،
در مراسم نیایش،چنان به درگاهت دعا میکنم
تا ابر سیاه بالای روسیه
به ابر سفیدی در میان پرتوهای شکوهمند بدل شود.