Harriet Monroe, ed. (1860–1936). The New Poetry: An Anthology. 1917.
Russian PeasantsMarya Zaturensky
T
The men and women and little children.
They dance wildly before the great lord’s castle,
Snapping their heels, cracking their fingers and sobbing
In hilarious passionate abandon.
Wilder and wilder arise the cries of the dancers,
And wilder the songs and the mad laughter.
Radiant with vision and joy and splendor.
Lithe are the bodies of the young women,
Marvelous the grace of the young men,
And strangely beautiful the wild chant of the old men and women.
Scarlet the embroidered bodices and petticoats,
Scarlet the blouses of the men,
And scarlet and riotous the exhilarating air.
Backs bowed, and eyes apathetic with labor.
They will speak to you sorrowfully, hopelessly:
“There is no joy in life,” they will say;
“Only with God is our great gladness—
His peace and his light be with you, brother.”