'Because somewhere there's simplicity and light,'

by Anna Akhmatova

　　Because somewhere there's simplicity and light,

　　Transparent, warm and joyous…

　　There a neighbour talks with a girl at twilight,

　　Over the fence, and only the bees hear,

　　The most tender of murmurings.

　　While we live with ceremony, difficulty,

　　Honouring the rites of our bitter meetings,

　　Where a sudden reckless gust

　　Breaks off the sentence begun –

　　But we'd not exchange for anything

　　This granite city of fame and misfortune,

　　The wide rivers of shining ice,

　　The sunless, gloomy gardens,

　　The barely audible voice of the Muse.