Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Blok Poems

We waited commonly for sleep or even death.
The instances were wearisome as ages.
But suddenly the wind's refreshing breath
Touched through the window the Holy Bible's pages:
...

The faithless shadows of day are running
And high and clear is the call of bells,
Steps of the church are blazed as with the lightning,
Their stones are alive and wait for your light steps.
...

Halls grew darker and somehow faded.
Grates of windows drowned in black.
Every knight, every beautiful lady
Knew the tiding: "The Queen's deadly sick."
...

In the harbor passive,
Just where green water calmly sleeps,
Set in the column, strong and massive,
Appeared navy's silent ships.
...

Don't call. Without any summons
I'll reach the shrine.
And droop my head in even silence
To your feet fine.
...

You are but millions. Our unnumbered nations
Are as the sands upon the sounding shore.
We are the Scythians! We are the slit-eyed Asians!
...

The snowy spring is raging mad,
I look away from the saga;
O, dreadful hour, when she read
...

She hailed from a very distant country,
Nocturnal child of ancient times;
She had no kin to greet her entry
...

Those born in obscure times
Do not remember their way.
We, children of Russia's frightful years
Cannot forget a thing.
...

III

The lads have all gone to the wars
to serve in the Red Guard ~
...