217 Quotes by Anna Akhmatova

In intimacy there exists a lineThat can't be crossed by passion or love's art --In awful silence lips melt into oneAnd out of love to pieces bursts the heart.And friendship here is impotent, and yearsOf happiness sublime in fire aglow,When soul is free and does not hearThe dulling of sweet passion, long and slow.Those who are striving toward it are in fever,But those that reach it struck with woe that lingers.Now you have understood, why foreverMy heart does not beat underneath your fingers.

I’m happy. But some beauty is nonesuch - The gently sloping path across the wood, The wretched bridge that’s just a little skewed And that, for which, I won’t be waiting much.

You dreamt of me, I knew,And hence I couldn't sleep.The lantern flickered blueAnd there my path ran steep.[...]"This is a lake," you thought."There is an island here..."Just then, on the darkened road,A little blue light appeared.By wretched sunlight severed,You stirred and moaned in pain,And for the first time ever,You called me by my name.

Once taken by her, you glowedAnd you drank her poisons, content. Because all the stars seemed to grow,And fields had a different scent,Autumn fields.

My shadow serves as the friend I crave.

Before the spring arrives there are such days:Under the thick snow cover rests the lawn,The dry-and-jolly trees are making noise,Tender and strong, the wind is warm.And body is amazed at its own lightness,And your own home is alien to you,And song that had just previously been tiringWith worry you are singing just like new.

But on that pale hand is no ring of mine, To no one will I give it, ever.The new moon’s golden beam forged it for me,And slipping it on in my sleep, whispered tome entreatingly;“Treasure this gift, be proud of the dream!”I won’t give the ring to anyone, ever.

Beyond the lake the waning moon has slowed,And stands there like a window open wideInto a hushed and brightly lit abodeWhere something dreadful has occurred inside.

And you know, I agree to everything:I will condemn, I will forget, I will give comfort to the enemy,Darkness will be light and sin lovely.