– 1 –
Once on my way from Zubovka
I met a maid with face
And form – a miracle of beauty,
Of elegance and grace.
So black were her eyes, her lips so red
That in a moment’s space
My heart stopped beating, and I stood –
Rooted to the place.
– 2 –
I started up as from a trance;
Then whispered as she frowned
“O sun, who may you be? Say, whence
And whither are you bound?
My heart has turned to red hot coal;
My soul love’s fires surround;
In waters flowing from your eyes
I would with joy be drowned.
– 3 –
With knitted brows, rebellious eyes,
She drew herself up proudly;
A sight to make the very face
Of beauty green with envy.
But when she said: “How dare you speak,
O sir, of love to me!”
Grief filled my breast, hot tears – my eyes
To overflow a sea.
– 4 –
Then angrily she turned around,
Her face now pale of hue,
“Betrothed am I to one who’s wiser,
Handsomer than you.”
Her every word, hot stabs of fire,
Like arrows towards me flew,
Pierced through my heart and from its depths
Woe-stricken sobbings drew.
– 5 –
She raised her hand, then struck me down.
I fell – a lover slain.
Prostrated, crushed and helpless, faint,
Upon that woodland lane.
Then anger vanished from her eyes,
Pride fled without restrain;
And on her features could be seen
A lurking touch of pain.
– 6 –
She bent o’er me and placed her hand
Upon my heaving chest.
Then gently helped me rise and asked:
“Why act like one possessed?”
I answered: “Unrequited love
Has brought me dire unrest;
It stirred an all-consuming fire
That burst forth from my breast.
– 7 –
Her eyes met mine. Blood in my ears
Like deafening thunder beat.
“Please go,” she whispered, “cruel tongues
May embitter what is sweet,
And curious eyes that scandal leads
May think us indiscreet.
Now go, but if you come this way,
I promise, we shall meet.”
– 8 –
She turned and left me… Long I sought her.
My quest, alas, in vain.
Eh gone! but from her promise rose
A spark that keeps me sane –
A kindling spark that brings to life
All hopes of joy again,
And like a star in dusky skies
Guides me through nights of pain.
– 9 –
Her promise in my heart I cherish,
And though with hope aglow,
Yet loud I weep, for her lament,
Hot tears in torrents flow.
She will not let me suffer long
In solitude, I know,
But to my prayers will lend an ear
When I am fallen low.
– 10 –
To guard my loved one with my life
Is all that I desire.
I know no rest, sleep flies from me,
My days in pain expire.
She’ll feed me with the Bread of Life,
And on a flaming pyre
Pour tears to cool my tortured heart,
Love cast in raging fire.
– 11 –
God, part me not from her who is
The only maid for me;
No joy on earth, no love of man
Could ever brighter be.
Perhaps for loving me they bound
And beat her cruelly.
Her tortured face, besmeared in blood,
In every dream I see.
– 12 –
O where are you? Where have you gone?
What shuts you from my view?
Alone I languish, ever seeking, –
Never finding you.
Perhaps you left me in this world
Of hell for heavens blue,
Then, love, have pity on me here,
For I would come to you!
– 13 –
Perhaps you left me in this world
Of hell for heavens blue,
Then, love, have pity on me here,
For I would come to you!
O love, have pity on me here,
For I would come to you!
(David Guramishvili)
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Based on Topics: Love Poems, Man Poems, God Poems, Life Poems, Faces Poems, Joy & Excitement Poems, Sense & Perception Poems, Place Poems, Fire Poems, Beauty Poems, Pain PoemsBased on Keywords: besmeared, betrothed, embitter, indiscreet, sobbings, all-consuming, handsomer, prostrated, woe-stricken