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 

• Иннокентий Анненский – Еврипид. Ифигения в Авлиде («Ифигения-жертва») (перевод) by Иннокентий Анненский
• Иннокентий Анненский – Еврипид. Геракл (перевод) by Иннокентий Анненский
• Илья Зданевич – Пабло Пикассо by Поэзия На Русском
• Илья Зданевич – Ослиный Бох by Поэзия На Русском
• Илья Зданевич – Опять на жизненную скуку by Поэзия На Русском
• Илья Зданевич – Галоша by Поэзия На Русском
• Илья Зданевич – Экспромт by Поэзия На Русском
• Илья Эренбург – Жилье в горах, как всякое жилье by Илья Эренбург
• Илья Эренбург – Я знаю, будет золотой и долгий by Илья Эренбург
• Илья Эренбург – Я так любил тебя, до грубых шуток by Илья Эренбург
• Илья Эренбург – Я слышу всё, и горестные шепоты by Илья Эренбург
• Илья Эренбург – Я помню, давно уже я уловил by Илья Эренбург
• Илья Эренбург – Я не трубач, труба by Илья Эренбург
• Илья Эренбург – Я бы мог прожить совсем иначе by Илья Эренбург
• Илья Эренбург – Взвился рыжий, ближе by Илья Эренбург
• Илья Эренбург – Вы приняли меня в изысканной гостиной by Илья Эренбург
• Илья Эренбург – Ода by Илья Эренбург
• Илья Эренбург – О Москве by Илья Эренбург
• Илья Эренбург – Легкий сон by Илья Эренбург
• Илья Эренбург – Круг by Илья Эренбург

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