The Upas Tree poem – Alexander Pushkin

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

Deep in the desert’s misery,

far in the fury of the sand,

there stands the awesome Upas Tree

lone watchman of a lifeless land.

The wilderness, a world of thirst,

in wrath engendered it and filled

its every root, every accursed

grey leafstalk with a sap that killed.

Dissolving in the midday sun

the poison oozes through its bark,

and freezing when the day is done

gleams thick and gem-like in the dark.

No bird flies near, no tiger creeps;

alone the whirlwind, wild and black,

assails the tree of death and sweeps

away with death upon its back.

And though some roving cloud may stain

with glancing drops those leaden leaves,

the dripping of a poisoned rain

is all the burning sand receives.

But man sent man with one proud look

towards the tree, and he was gone,

the humble one, and there he took

the poison and returned at dawn.

He brought the deadly gum; with it

he brought some leaves, a withered bough,

while rivulets of icy sweat

ran slowly down his livid brow.

He came, he fell upon a mat,

and reaping a poor slave’s reward,

died near the painted hut where sat

his now unconquerable lord.

The king, he soaked his arrows true

in poison, and beyond the plains

dispatched those messengers and slew

his neighbors in their own domains.

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Poems in English 

• Robert Burns: Epistle To J. Lapraik, An Old Scottish Bard: by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: Death and Doctor Hornbook : A True Story by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: Tarbolton Lasses, The: by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: Epitaph On Holy Willie: by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: Holy Willie’s Prayer: “And send the godly in a pet to pray.” – Pope. by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: Epistle To Davie, A Brother Poet: by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: The Twa Herds; Or, The Holy Tulyie: An Unco Mournfu’ Tale by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: Man Was Made To Mourn: A Dirge: by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: Lines On The Author’s Death: Written With The Supposed View Of Being Handed To Rankine After The Poet’s Interment by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: Epitaph On John Rankine: by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: On Tam The Chapman: by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: Another [Epigram On The Said Occasion… On A Henpecked Country Squire]: by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: Epigram On The Said Occasion [On A Henpecked Country Squire]: by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: Tragic Fragment: by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: On A Henpecked Country Squire: by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: On A Noisy Polemic: by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: The Belles Of Mauchline: by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: My Girl She’s Airy: Fragment by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: The Mauchline Lady: Fragment by Robert Burns
• Robert Burns: O Leave Novels: by Robert Burns

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