Deutsch and Yarmolinsky, comps. Modern Russian Poetry. 1921.
The Devils SwingsFyodor Sologub (Pseudonym of Fyodor Teternikov) (b. 1863)
B
Where loud the river sings,
The hairy-handed devil
Pushes his devilish swings.
To and fro
To and fro
The boards creak, bending low,
The taut rope rubbing slow
Against the heavy boughs.
With a long creak swings wide,
The devil, still grimacing,
Guffaws and holds his side.
To and fro
To and fro
I sway and cling, but no,
My languid glances grow
Fast where the devil tows.
The blue fiend’s sniggers sting:
“You found the swings so fine,
Well, devil take you, swing!”
They squeak and whirl and sling:
“You found the swings so fine?
Well, devil take you, swing!”
The board that hangs too steep
Till I am thrust toward peace
By the dark hand’s dread sweep.
Too long, and is worn free,
Until the broad black ground
Comes flying up to me.
And bore into the mire.
Then swing, devil, swing—
Higher, higher, higher!