KONSTANTIN BALMONT: To Shelly
To Shelly
My best of brothers, brilliant genius,
I’ve merged with you into the one.
The same set of the pains between us,
The same set of the dreams, mischievous
And always shining as a sun.
And I, as you, love plains, the sole,
Of the unbound wailing seas,
And I, with easy-wounded soul
That’s gentler then a lily’s bowl,
Live like a shade the people midst.
And I, like lightning, bred by clouds,
Flash in the zigzags of pure gold;
And planted on the Beauty’s grounds,
It’s opened for me and sounds –
The everlasting great Accord.
Translated by Yevgeny Bonver, September, 2003