Ахмадулина Вулканы English

In numbness dead volcanoes stay,
Burnt ash descends upon their feet.
Deep down, the resting giants lay
Whose evil deed is now complete.

Though ever cold is their domain,
And grave, the burden of the earth -
Come night, same sinful scenes again      
Before their sleepy eyes come forth.

They see the city of much fame,
Which unbeknownst is doomed to fade;
The garden blossoms in a frame
Of basalt rock turned colonnade;

Girls picking flowers for the wreaths
In bunches blooming fragrantly;
Men sipping wine to promised bliss
In Bacchus lovers’ company…

The feast is heating, getting wild;
They revel in their foolishness.
O my dear girl Pompeii, the child
Born to a slave and a princess!

What thought engaged you - in the charm
Of lucky destiny’s deceit -
As you so bravely leaned your arm
Upon Vesuvius, my sweet? 

You were enamored by his lore;
Dilated eyes would keenly stare -
But his unstoppable amore
Burst far too strong for you to bear.

And he brought down his wisest head
As day was settling into eve
And pressed it to your feet, now dead –
And hollered out a scream, “Forgive!”