To You

(Translation of a poem by the Russian poetess Z.Gippius)

Feeling deep within
Suffering is vain,
Vain
I'm not confusing love
To you with pain,
Pain.
*
I love you
Like a river willow
So still,
Still.
Like a dawn strip
Above a hill,
Hill.
*
I love you
Like a message from a land
Fair,
Fair.
Like sweetness known
Of a prayer,
Prayer.
*
I love you
Like an echo of silence
Eternal,
Eternal.
Like a promise of wonder
Internal,
Internal.
*
I love you
Like a simple joy
Enigmatic,
Enigmatic.
Like a stranger's word
Prophetic,
Prophetic.