| Deutsch and Yarmolinsky, comps. Modern Russian Poetry. 1921. | | | | Benediction | | By Valery Brusov (b. 1873) |
| | | | Que tes mains soient bénies, car elles sont impures. |
| CHARLES BAUDELAIRE. |
THE SHINING of your golden eyes I bless! | |
| That broke my dark delirium with light. | |
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| The smile that wavers on your lips I bless! | |
| It kindled me like wine, it rent my night. | |
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| The poison in your kisses hid, I bless! | 5 |
| All thoughts, all dreams are poisoned by your kiss. | |
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| The scythe that sings in your embrace I bless! | |
| All my past years you have mown down with this. | |
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| The fire of your awful love I bless! | |
| I wrapped its flame about me joyfully. | 10 |
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| The darkness of your spirit, lo, I bless! | |
| For that its wings were outstretched over me. | |
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| Blessed all you gave, blessed what your soul denies: | |
| I bless you for the grief, the dread, the pain; | |
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| That after you I strove toward Paradise; | 15 |
| That here without its gates, I stand in vain. | | | | |
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