Osip Emilevich Mandelstam Sun Poems
- 1. This Night Is Irredeemable
This night is irredeemable.
Where you are, it is still bright.
At the gates of Jerusalem,
a black sun is alight.
... - 2. The Chalice Was Suspended In The Air
The chalice was suspended in the air
Like the golden sun for a splendid moment.
Here only Greek should be heard:
To take the whole world in your hands, like a simple apple.
... - 3. Brothers, Let Us Glorify Freedom-s Twilight
Brothers, let us glorify freedomâ??s twilight â??
the great, darkening year.
Into the seething waters of the night
heavy forests of nets disappear.
... - 4. Sisters
Sisters - Heaviness and Tenderness- you look the same.
Wasps and bees both suck the heavy rose.
Man dies, and the hot sand cools again.
Carried off on a black stretcher, yesterdayâ??s sun goes.
... - 5. In Petersburg We'll Meet Again
In Petersburg we'll meet again,
As though we'd buried the sun there,
And for the first time utter
The blessed, senseless word.
... - 6. Tortoise
On the stony spurs of Pierius
The Muses conducted the first round dance
So like bees, blind lyrists might give us Ionic honey.
A great chill blew
... - 7. Twilight Of Freedom
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Let us glorify, brothers, the twilight of freedom --
The great twilight year.
... - 8. Go Back To The Tainted Lap, Leah
Go back to the tainted lap, Leah,
Whence you came,
Because to the sun of Ilion
You preferred yellow twilight.
... - 9. Just For Joy, Take From My Palms
Just for joy, take from my palms
A little sun, a little honey,
As Persephone's bees commanded.
...
