Zinaida Hippius (Mme. Dmitry Merezhkovsky) (b. 1869)

THOU queen of all serenity,

Soul of my soul, most chaste,

I summon thee, divinity,

I summon thee, make haste!

But to the tryst thy offering

Shall not be brought alone.

My guilt will come, my suffering,

My sin will lift its moan.

Before thy heart insulted so,

In shame my head will sink;

And I, who once exulted so,

My humble tears shall drink.

Forgive me that diurnity

Is all my love could dower;

That not for all eternity,—

I made thee for an hour.

Alone my will hath kindled here

Thy being from the void.

And thou shalt soon have dwindled here,

By my sole will destroyed.

As I, thou shalt grow tremulous,

Till all my strength is gone,

To fall, of silence emulous,

Into oblivion.