The Black Shawl poem – Alexander Pushkin

A poem by Alexander Pushkin – Pouchkine, Pooshkin (1799-1837), in English translation

As of senses bereft, at a black shawl I stare,

And my chill heart is tortured with deadly despair.

When dreaming too fondly in credulous youth,

I loved a Greek maiden with passion and truth.

My Greek girl was gentle and loving and fair;

But my joy quickly sank in a day of despair.

Once I feasted gay friends; ere the banquet was o’er

A Jew, the accursed, softly knocked at my door.

“Thou art laughing,” he whispered,”in pleasure’s mad whirl;

But she hath betrayed thee, thy young Grecian girl.”

I cursed him; but gold as a guerdon I gave,

And took as companion my trustiest slave.

My swift charger I mounted; at once we depart,

And the soft voice of pity was stilled in my heart.

The Greek maiden’s dwelling I hardly could mark,

For my limbs they grew faint, and my eyes they grew dark.

I silently entered-alone and amazed;

An Armenian was kissing the girl as I gazed.

I saw not the light; but I seized my good blade;

The betrayer ne’er finished the kiss that betrayed.

On his warm, headless body I trampled, then spurn’d,

And silent and pale to the maiden I turned.

I remember her prayers-in her blood how she strove;

Then perished my Greek girl-then perished my love.

I tore the black shawl from her head as she lay,

Wiped the blood-dripping weapon, and hurried away.

When the mists of the evening rose gloomy, my slave

Threw each corpse in the Danube’s dark fastrolling wave.

Since then no bewildering eyes can delight;

Since then I forbear festive banquets at night.

As of senses bereft, at a black shawl I stare,

And my chill heart is tortured with deadly despair.

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Poems in English 

• The Human Tragedy ACT IV poem – Alfred Austin by Alfred Austin
• The Human Tragedy ACT III poem – Alfred Austin by Alfred Austin
• The Human Tragedy ACT II poem – Alfred Austin by Alfred Austin
• The Human Tragedy ACT I poem – Alfred Austin by Alfred Austin
• The Golden Year! poem – Alfred Austin by Alfred Austin
• The Golden Year! poem – Alfred Austin by Alfred Austin
• The Golden Year! poem – Alfred Austin by Alfred Austin
• On Returning To England poem – Alfred Austin by Alfred Austin
• Off Mesolongi poem – Alfred Austin by Alfred Austin
• Nocturnal Vigils poem – Alfred Austin by Alfred Austin
• Nature And the Book poem – Alfred Austin by Alfred Austin
• Nature And the Book poem – Alfred Austin by Alfred Austin
• My Winter Rose poem – Alfred Austin by Alfred Austin
• “My soul is sunk in all–suffusing shame” poem – Alfred Austin by Alfred Austin
• “My northern blood exults to face” poem – Alfred Austin by Alfred Austin
• Mozart’s Grave poem – Alfred Austin by Alfred Austin
• Mozart’s Grave poem – Alfred Austin by Alfred Austin
• Messalina poem – Alfred Austin by Alfred Austin
• Off Mesolongi poem – Alfred Austin by Alfred Austin
• Mafeking poem – Alfred Austin by Alfred Austin

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