The hour of the soul

At the deep hour of the soul,
Deep hour - nocturnal...
(Gigantic stride of the soul,
Soul in night's hold.)

At that hour, soul, rule all
The worlds you will
To govern - palaces of soul,
Soul, rule them all.

Make rusty your lips, with snow
Powder your lashes
(Atlantic sigh of soul,
Soul in night's hold...)

Soul, with darkness kohl
The eyes where like Vega
You arise...Of sweetest fruit
Make bitter gall.

Make bitter, dark as coal.
Grow great: and rule.

Marina Tsvetaeva
8 August 1923

Tradução do russo de David McDuff