Anna Akhmatova

My land and son are sweeter than my life’s,
They are my largest values in the world.
What’ll do a youth if he his land forfeits?
Isn’t his land dead when all her sons are lost?  

My land and son are happiness of mine,
Only to them my own life to fill,
All others treasures I’ve not in my mind,
Only with them the endless spring I feel.

Most of all treasures I them both prize.
I am to stand by them until my end - 
Just by my sonny – joyful one and nice,
Just by my priceless, dear Motherland.


Translated by Yevgeny Bonver, June, 2001