Deutsch and Yarmolinsky, comps. Modern Russian Poetry. 1921.
You Sit on the Bed ThereAndrey Bely (Pseudonym of Boris Bugayev) (b. 1880)
(Opening poem of the “Funeral Mass” cycle)
“Y
In the sunset’s full crimson,
Pillows crumpled,
Looking distracted,—what
Troubles you?”
Transparent
Gold cataracts,
The fir-tree tops
Loom athwart the sky’s blue.”
Languish,
Through summery
Twilights and Winter nights.
There are new flights, but
Try them I dare not.
Oh, do not die!”
I float off into æther seas.
Who, there, what, there,
Swathes the sky with whitenesses,
As with vestments of silver?”