How many people fell in this abyss

Ilya Shambat <[email protected]> Sat, 4 Nov 2023 22:30:40 -0700 (PDT)
Newsgroups alt.angst
Message-ID <[email protected]>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DjlrqxeytOFA

How many people fell in this abyss,=20
I fathom from afar!=20
There will be time, and I will vanish too=20
From earth's exterior. =20

All will be still, that sang and that did struggle,=20
That glistened and rejoiced:=20
The greenness of my eyes, the gold of my hair,=20
And this my tender voice. =20

Life will continue with its soft hot bread,=20
With day's oblivion.=20
All will continue =E2=80=94 under outstretched heavens=20
As if I'd never been! =20

Like children changeable in every mien=20
And angry not for long,=20
Who loved the times when in the fireplace=20
Into ash turned the log, =20

Violin and cavalcade within the forest=20
And in the village, bell...=20
Upon this dear earth =E2=80=94 I will be no longer=20
That was alive and real! =20

To all =E2=80=94 who are the friends and strangers=20
To me that never knew what was enough -=20
I turn to you with this my faith's demand=20
And a request of love. =20

Both day and night, in word and letter both:=20
For truth of yes and no,=20
For that though I am but twenty I am=20
So often in such sorrow, =20

For unavoidably my slights and trespasses=20
Will be forgiven me =E2=80=94=20
For all of my impetuous tenderness=20
And look too proud and free =E2=80=94 =20

For quickness of events as they come rushing,=20
For truth, for play, say I =E2=80=94=20
Please hear me! But do also please love me=20
For this that I will die.=20

By Marina Tsvetayeva
Translated from Russian by Ilya Shambat