Mikhail Lermontov

On a bare hill's top, in the North, wild and cold,
A lone pine-tree somewhere stands; 
She dozes, swaying, all covered by snow 
With a mantel from feet to a head.

She sees in her dreams: in a faraway desert,
In lands where the sun enters skies,
Alone and sad, on a rock's sunburnt lather,
A beautiful palm-tree abides.


Translated by Yevgeny Bonver, November, 2000