Joyful Heart, Winged Heart

by Nikolay Gumilyov



Joyful heart, winged heart.
in my light small boat
I skim over the freedom of the ripples
all day from dawn to sunset
and love the reflection of the mountains
on the surface of clear lakes.

Formerly a thousand troubles engulfed me,
my heart beat like a beast at bay,
and longed for unknown distances
and longed for... But now
I love the reflection of the mountains
on the surface of clear lakes.

The Pillar of Fire, selected poems -trans. Richard McKane