https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlrqxeytOFA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For unavoidably my slights and trespasses
Will be forgiven me —
For all of my impetuous tenderness
And look too proud and free —

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

By Marina Tsvetayeva
Translated from Russian by Ilya Shambat

On Sunday, November 5, 2023 at 1:28:53 AM UTC-4, Ilya Shambat wrote:
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlrqxeytOFA
>
> How many people fell in this abyss,
> I fathom from afar!
> There will be time, and I will vanish too
> From earth's exterior.
>
> All will be still, that sang and that did struggle,
> That glistened and rejoiced:
> The greenness of my eyes, the gold of my hair,
> And this my tender voice.
>
> Life will continue with its soft hot bread,
> With day's oblivion.
> All will continue — under outstretched heavens
> As if I'd never been!
>
> Like children changeable in every mien
> And angry not for long,
> Who loved the times when in the fireplace
> Into ash turned the log,
>
> Violin and cavalcade within the forest
> And in the village, bell...
> Upon this dear earth — I will be no longer
> That was alive and real!
>
> To all — who are the friends and strangers
> To me that never knew what was enough -
> I turn to you with this my faith's demand
> And a request of love.
>
> Both day and night, in word and letter both:
> For truth of yes and no,
> For that though I am but twenty I am
> So often in such sorrow,
>
> For unavoidably my slights and trespasses
> Will be forgiven me —
> For all of my impetuous tenderness
> And look too proud and free —
>
> For quickness of events as they come rushing,
> For truth, for play, say I —
> Please hear me! But do also please love me
> For this that I will die.
>
> By Marina Tsvetayeva
> Translated from Russian by Ilya Shambat

Excellent poetry by Marina Tsvetayeva and kudos to you for bringing it to an American audience, I.S.