Anna Akhmatova

And just having searched in the past, you’ll unlock
The gloves so long as to elbow,
The Petersburg night, in the theatre’s box 
That smell, suffocating and mellow,
And winds from the bay. And not far – what a shock! -
Between lines, void passionate clamor,   
Will once smile to you very spiteful Blok –
The century’s tragical tenor.


Translated by Yevgeny Bonver, August, 2002