A Russian Easter / Marya Zaturenska

A Russian Easter

In the great cathedral with blue windows,
In the great cathedral of Moscow,
They will kneel before the holy ikons.

The Mother is dressed in blue and gold,
And the Child’s eyes are of blue jewels;  
And golden and blue are the robes of the high priest.

Natasha will be there in a scarlet cloak,
And Irena’s gown will be embroidered in crimson.
Sergei will be there, and Igor
Will gaze with mystic Slav-eyes at the gold altar.

They will weep before the altar for their sins;
They will beat their breasts and pray for pardon;
They will arise shrived and forgiven!

When the priest unlooses the tiny white doves —
They will weep for joy.      

All will arise and embrace one another,
Crying, “Hail, brother, hail!”—
Crying, “Hail, sister, hail!”

Christ is arisen, Christ is arisen! Christ
Has arisen from his grave!      

Igor will chant sonorously,
“Peace and brotherhood and love
Have arisen with the white Christ!”

All will take up the cry
Peace and brotherhood and love!      

Let there be peace and love
Since Christ is arisen, Christ is arisen,
Christ is arisen from the dead!

Irena’s lover will kiss her on the lips,
Wild with the love of God.    
Natasha’s lover will kiss her forehead
Reverently as the hands of the high priest.

But I shall be alone weeping:
I shall weep remembering the blue cathedral;
I shall be sad in a strange country,    
Thinking of Igor, Natasha and Sergei,
Irena, and the singing multitude.

~~
Marya Zaturenska (1902-1982)
from Poetry, April 1920

[Poem is in the public domain in the United States]

Marya Zaturenska biography