from Poems about Moscow - Marina Tsvetaeva

from the cycle, 'Poems about Moscow'

by Marina Tsvetaeva

2.

From these hands, my strange, my beauteous brother,
Receive this city not wrought by men's hands.

All forty churches multiplied by forty
And countless pigeons cooing from above;

Spassky Cathedral, with its bud-like gates,
Where Orthodox believers doff their caps;

The starry chapel, sanctuary from evil,
Its floor wiped clean by reverential lips;

Five cathedrals, this unrivalled ring
Accept from me, inspired, eternal friend.

The garden of the Unexpected Joy
Is where I'll lead my guest come from afar.

Bronze cupolas will gleam resplendently,
The bells will thunder endlessly of glory,

From crimson clouds, upon you will descend
Raiments from the Holy Mother's hands,

And filled with wondrous powers, you will rise...
- You shall not repent, that you loved me.

31 March 1916

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is a free translation, since I have not
been able to rhyme the couplets in English, as
in the original. It is still a work in progress.