European Elegies/Spring/A night in May
64.A NIGHT IN MAY
Across the clearing sky the soft clouds go,
Slow-fading; thus
The sickle moon reaps their last sheaves of snow
Diaphanous.
Slow-fading; thus
The sickle moon reaps their last sheaves of snow
Diaphanous.
They pass, and from the stars strange powers of spring
Breathe down to bless
My heart in this vain earth with whispering
Of happiness.
Breathe down to bless
My heart in this vain earth with whispering
Of happiness.
But still the shades of time such visions blight:
As clouds, alas,
Into the vacant vastness of the night
We too shall pass.
As clouds, alas,
Into the vacant vastness of the night
We too shall pass.
From the Russian of Afanasi Fet.