N.Gumilyov, The Rat - Translation (Rus.) Poem by Lyudmila Purgina

By Nikolai Gumilyov

The Rat

An icon-lamp is flinching in the corner
Of the quiet child's room, dark 'n' weird,
In the small laced bassinet rosy,
Lying quietly, there is a baby child.
What's this? Isn't it a caugh of dwarf?
There he lives, so small and bald...
Hush! There from behind the wardrobe
Awful rat is coming out slowly.
In the reddish gleam of icon-lamp she,
Moving with her prickly whiskers terribly,
Searches if the girl is in her bed now,
Pretty girl with eyes opened greately.
-Mammy, mammy! - But there're guests with mother,
Nanny Vasilisa laughs in kitchen.
And in dark there's the only fires -
That's the eyes of rat, like coal gleaming.
How dreadful is to wait in darkness!
But the more fear's to stand up now!
Where are you, my light-winged holy angel?
Please, come soon, protect me out of foe!