There is a sacred line in human closeness,
That passion and romance can never cross, –
Though lips may blend in silent, eerie stillness,
And hearts may break from love and feel the loss.
And friendship here is helpless, as are years
Of high and fiery happiness we knew,
When souls are free and far from sensory fears,
And from the sluggish, sensual languor too.
Those striving for it are by madness driven,
And those who reach it are struck down by grief...
Now you have understood why to your hand
My beating heart will never grant relief.
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Author:
cellinic (
Offline) - Published: June 14th, 2026 02:51
- Comment from author about the poem: This poem is a translation of Anna Akhmatova's poem 'Est' v blizosti lyudei zavetnaya cherta" with adaptation to English rhyme and meter.
- Category: Reflection
- Views: 12
- Users favorite of this poem: sorenbarrett, Tristan Robert Lange
Offline)
Comments3
Translation more difficult than writing oneself. I have tried it before. To keep the original meaning and feeling of the poem while maintaining meter and rhyme are near impossible given the differences in languages ask Alexander Pope and how well he did with the Iliad and the Odyssey epic poems from ancient Greek. Very nicely done.
Many thanks, my friend. Translation is quite a difficult genre but very fruitful when yields sensible results)
You are most welcome yes I believe it is.
There’s a haunting restraint here—love held right at the edge, where crossing over would cost something essential.
It feels almost tragic in its clarity: the heart refuses not from lack of feeling, but because it understands too much.
Many thanks for such a reasonable and deep view!
Cellinic, this really moved me. There is a profound sadness running through these lines...the ache of recognizing a boundary that feeling alone cannot erase. Powerful write, my friend. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
Many thanks, my friend
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