A.Akhmatova, The Devotion - Translation (Rus.) Poem by Lyudmila Purgina

By Anna Akhmatova

You see, not under alien vault,
Without proof of alien wings,
Once I was living in the world,
Where was unfortunately - my people...

1961
....
The Devotion

Before this grief the rocks're bowing,
The river great is breaking flow,
The prison's shutters solid so,
Behind them 'penal holes' grow
As well as mortal melancholy.

For somebody - fresh wind is blowing,
For somebody - sunset's performing,
But just the same we are and don't know,
We heard odious keys - to gnash
And soldier's steps - to go.

We did got up as to the mess so early,
Were going through wild capital, then
Were meeting all, filled with tremendous woe,
The sun - to set, Neva - to fade,
And far and far - our hope.

At last - the sentence...She bursts in tears,
From others - separated. Life and heart -
Are taken out with pain feelings.
World - overturned. Unsteady... feared...
Alone... she goes far...

Where are they today - my true companions
Of these two damned and awful years?
What do they see in vast Siberian snowpiles?
What do they see under the moon at night?
Last farewell for them - my cheers...

March 1940