'My heart beats smoothly, steadily,'

by Anna Akhmatova

　　What are long years to me?

　　Under the Galernaya arch,

　　Our shadows, for eternity.

　　Through half-closed eyelids,

　　I see, I see that you're with me,

　　And forever held in your hand

　　Is my unopened fan.

　　Because we stood together,

　　In that blessed miraculous moment,

　　The instant of the rose-red moon

　　Lifting over the Summer Garden –

　　I've no need to wait

　　At some hateful window,

　　Or grow weary with meeting –

　　My thirsty love is quenched.

　　You are free, and so am I,

　　Tomorrow will be better than yesterday –

　　Above the Neva's dark waters,

　　Below the Emperor Peter's

　　Cold smile.