"Oh, Let This Sharp Dagger..."

Oh, let this sharp dagger of yours
Be piercing through my poor ribs!
It’s stronger than all your sharp steels –
My absolute armor - my verse!

And let the great pain from the stings
Dry sea and make skies black and low!
The verse – consolation in woe –
Is born – by a pain – with strong wings!


Translated by Yevgeny Bonver, February, 2003