Saturday Rave: The Sail by Mikhail Lermontov

 Russian school children, I am told, learn a lot of poetry. This poem by Mikhail Lermontov is said to be a favourite.

Knowing children the world over, I'd guess that's largely because it's short. But that's not, I should imagine, the only reason it's cherished.

In any case, it seems to be a good poem for these times, and I hope that many of the Russian people are remembering it now.

A sail is passing, white and frail.
What do you seek in a far country?
What have you left at home, lone sail?

The billows play, the breezes whistle,
And rhythmically creaks the mast.
Alas, you seek no happy future,
Nor do you flee a happy past.

Below the mirrored azure brightens,
Above the golden rays increase —
But you, wild rover, pray for tempests
As if in tempests there was peace!

Translated by Vladimir Nabokov

Sailing Boat, Evening Effect by Claude Monet

Word To Use Today: azure. This is the colour of a clear blue sky. The word came into English from the Old French azur, from Old Spanish, from Arabic lāzaward, lapis lazuli, from Persian lāzhuward.