A.Blok, The Angel-Keeper - Translation (Rus.) Poem by Lyudmila Purgina

The Angel-Keeper
by Alexander Alexandrovich Blok

I love You, the Angel-Keeper in the dark.
This darkness is with me on earth and far.
For that you was a fair bride for me,
For that you've taken away my mystery.
For that the night has united us strongly,
For that you're a sister, a bride, and a daughter.
For that we are destined to long-life such living,
Oh, for that we're the husband and the wife even!
For your spells and my chains lee,
For that damn above the family.
For that you prefer not my favourite things,
For that I'm about the beggars greaving.
For that we could not live in consent each other,
For that I wish killing, but can't,
I can't just revenge those, who lived without
The fire, oppressed me and people's desires!
Who closed the free and strong men to prisons,
Who had not believed in my fire inside me.
Who wishes with money to steal all my day,
And turn to humility as the dogs have...
For that I'm weak and is ready to restrain,
As all my the ancestors - were only slaves,
And soul mine seems to be poisoned with tenderness,
And thus this hand wouldn't hoist a knife at least...
But I do love you and for my weakness too,
For bitter such fate and your strength to be true.
That things, that were burned and were filled with the lead -
No one could break off, even dare to break!
Was looking with you at this nice purple dawn,
Together with you I'm staring at black chasm.
It's dual for us this the order of fate:
We are free in souls, but malicious slaves.
Let's stay! Let's just dare! Don't leave! And depart!
What's there in future - the fire, the dark?
Who's calling? Who's crying? Where do we go?
Together - connected - forever anyhow.
And then we'll revive?
Or be lost? Or will die?

17 August 1906