A heavy cross is her allotted burden: she hides her tears, dares hardly speak or stir; some know the joys of passion, youth and freedom; she gave him… - Nikolay Nekrasov

Средь лицемерных наших дел
И всякой пошлости и прозы
Одни я в мире подсмотрел
Святые, искренние слёзы —
То слезы бедных матерей!
Им не забыть своих детей,
Погибших на кровавой ниве,
Как не поднять плакучей иве
Своих поникнувших ветвей.

Amid our hypocritical affairs
and all kinds of matters, platitudinous and prosaic,
the only sacred and sincere tears I have observed
are the tears of unfortunate mothers.
For them to forget their children slain in battle
is as impossible as for a weeping willow
to lift its drooping branches.

Thou art so pitiful,
Poor, and so sorrowful,
Yet of great treasure full,
Mighty, all-powerful,
Russia, my Mother!