The Black Shawl poem – Alexander Pushkin

A poem by Alexander Pushkin – Pouchkine, Pooshkin (1799-1837), in English translation

As of senses bereft, at a black shawl I stare,

And my chill heart is tortured with deadly despair.

When dreaming too fondly in credulous youth,

I loved a Greek maiden with passion and truth.

My Greek girl was gentle and loving and fair;

But my joy quickly sank in a day of despair.

Once I feasted gay friends; ere the banquet was o’er

A Jew, the accursed, softly knocked at my door.

“Thou art laughing,” he whispered,”in pleasure’s mad whirl;

But she hath betrayed thee, thy young Grecian girl.”

I cursed him; but gold as a guerdon I gave,

And took as companion my trustiest slave.

My swift charger I mounted; at once we depart,

And the soft voice of pity was stilled in my heart.

The Greek maiden’s dwelling I hardly could mark,

For my limbs they grew faint, and my eyes they grew dark.

I silently entered-alone and amazed;

An Armenian was kissing the girl as I gazed.

I saw not the light; but I seized my good blade;

The betrayer ne’er finished the kiss that betrayed.

On his warm, headless body I trampled, then spurn’d,

And silent and pale to the maiden I turned.

I remember her prayers-in her blood how she strove;

Then perished my Greek girl-then perished my love.

I tore the black shawl from her head as she lay,

Wiped the blood-dripping weapon, and hurried away.

When the mists of the evening rose gloomy, my slave

Threw each corpse in the Danube’s dark fastrolling wave.

Since then no bewildering eyes can delight;

Since then I forbear festive banquets at night.

As of senses bereft, at a black shawl I stare,

And my chill heart is tortured with deadly despair.

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Poems in English 

• Михаил Лермонтов – Чаша жизни by Михаил Лермонтов
• Михаил Лермонтов – Бухариной by Михаил Лермонтов
• Михаил Лермонтов – Булевар by Михаил Лермонтов
• Михаил Лермонтов – Боюсь не смерти я by Михаил Лермонтов
• Лермонтов – Бородино: Стихотворение “Скажи-ка, дядя, ведь не даром”, читать текст стиха полностью онлайн на Poetry Monster by Михаил Лермонтов
• Михаил Лермонтов – Бой с барсом (Отрывок Мцыри) by Михаил Лермонтов
• Михаил Лермонтов – Блистая, пробегают облака by Михаил Лермонтов
• Михаил Лермонтов – Благодарность by Михаил Лермонтов
• Михаил Лермонтов – Без вас хочу сказать вам много by Михаил Лермонтов
• Михаил Лермонтов – Беглец by Михаил Лермонтов
• Михаил Лермонтов – Бартеневой by Михаил Лермонтов
• Михаил Лермонтов – Баллада (Куда так проворно, жидовка младая) by Михаил Лермонтов
• Михаил Лермонтов – Баллада (из Байрона) by Михаил Лермонтов
• Михаил Лермонтов – Баллада (В избушке позднею порою) by Михаил Лермонтов
• Михаил Лермонтов – Ах! Ныне я не тот совсем by Михаил Лермонтов
• Михаил Лермонтов – Арфа by Михаил Лермонтов
• Михаил Лермонтов – Ангел by Михаил Лермонтов
• Михаил Лермонтов – А. А. Олениной (Ах! Анна Алексевна) by Михаил Лермонтов
• Михаил Кузмин – Звезда Афродиты by Михаил Кузьмин
• Михаил Кузмин – Зимнее солнце by Михаил Кузьмин

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