Famous Russian Poems
I Loved You
by Alexander PushkinOriginal: Я вас любил: любовь ещё, быть может, В душе моей угасла не совсем; Но пусть она вас больше не тревожит; Я не хочу печалить вас ничем. Transliteration: Ya vas lyubil: lyubov’ yeshcho, byt’ mozhet, V dushe moyey ugasla ne sovsem; No pust’ ona vas bol’she ne trevozhit; Ya ne khochu pechalit’ vas nishchem. Translation: I loved you: perhaps that love Has not completely faded in my soul; But let it no longer trouble you; I do not wish to sadden you in any way.
The Prophet
by Alexander BlokOriginal: Славься, Аллах, Всевышний! Я зову тебя! Я в сердце своем Храню свой меч, Меч — символ обиды, Меч — символ страсти, Меч — символ тьмы. Меч — символ мечты! Transliteration: Slavsya, Allah, Vsevyshniy! Ya zovu tebya! Ya v serdtse svoyem Khran’yu svoy mech, Mech — simvol obidy, Mech — simvol strasti, Mech — simvol t’my. Mech — simvol mechtu! Translation: Glory to You, Allah, Most High! I call to You! I keep my sword In my heart, The sword — a symbol of offense, The sword — a symbol of passion, The sword — a symbol of darkness. The sword — a symbol of dreams!
The Nightingale
by Fyodor TyutchevOriginal: Как ночь тиха! Лишь слышно, как лунный свет Поет соловей, И нежные мечты Волшебством обнимают Мою уставшую душу. Transliteration: Kak noch’ tikha! Lish slyshno, kak lunnyy svet Poyet solovey, I nezhnyye mechty Volshebstvom obnimayut Moyu ustavshuyu dushu. Translation: How quiet is the night! Only the moonlight can be heard Singing the nightingale, And tender dreams Embrace My weary soul with magic.
Nocturne
by Anna AkhmatovaOriginal: Ночь наступила, Луна прячется за облаками. Ветер тихо шепчет, А звезды мерцают, Как тихие слезы, Напоминающие о тебе. Transliteration: Noch’ nastupila, Luna priyachyetsya za oblakami. Veter tikho sheptet, A zvezdy mertsayut, Kak tikhiye slezy, Napominayushchiye o tebe. Translation: The night has come, The moon hides behind the clouds. The wind whispers softly, And the stars twinkle, Like quiet tears, Reminding me of you.
The Swan
by Mikhail LermontovOriginal: Белый лебедь на воде Гордой шеей ввысь стремится. На гребне волны, как меч, Он в светлую даль стремится. Transliteration: Belyy lebed’ na vode Gordoy shey vvyss tremitsya. Na grebne volny, kak mech, On v svetluyu dal’ tremitsya. Translation: A white swan on the water Strives upward with a proud neck. On the crest of the wave, like a sword, He strives into the bright distance.
The Autumn
by Anna AkhmatovaOriginal: Осень, осень, как грустно Листья падают с деревьев. Каждая капля дождя Как будто плачет о нас. Transliteration: Osen’, osen’, kak grustno List’ya padayut s derev’yev. Kazhdaya kaplya dozhdya Kak budto plachet o nas. Translation: Autumn, autumn, how sadly The leaves fall from the trees. Every raindrop Seems to weep for us.
Береза
Sergey Aleksandrovich YeseninБелая берёза Под моим окном Принакрылась снегом, Точно серебром. На пушистых ветках Снежною каймой Распустились кисти Белой бахромой. И стоит берёза В сонной тишине, И горят снежинки В золотом огне. А заря, лениво Обходя кругом, Обсыпает ветки Новым серебром.
елеет парус одинокой
Михаилом ЛермонтовымБелеет парус одинокой В тумане моря голубом!.. Что ищет он в стране далёкой? Что кинул он в краю родном?.. Играют волны – ветер свищет, И мачта гнётся и скрипит… Увы! он счастия не ищет И не от счастия бежит! Под ним струя светлей лазури, Над ним луч солнца золотой… А он, мятежный, просит бури, Как будто в бурях есть покой!
Шепот, робкое дыханье
Александром БлокомШепот. Робкое дыханье… Шепот, робкое дыхание. Трели соловья, Серебро и колыханье Сонного ручья. Свет ночной, ночные тени, Тени безконца, Ряд волшебных изменений Милого лица, В дымных тучках пурпурных роз, Отблеск таря， И лобзания，и слезы， И заря, заря! ..
Famous Russian poets
Karion Istomin
Karion Istomin (1640–1717) was a notable 17th-century Russian poet, calligrapher, and educator. He played a key role in developing Russian poetic traditions, incorporating Baroque literary elements. As a scholar at the Moscow Print Yard, Istomin created illustrated ABC books and composed religious and secular poetry, blending literary creativity with educational innovation, influencing both Russian literature and early educational reforms.
Mikhail Lomonosov
Mikhail Lomonosov(1711–1765) was a pioneering Russian polymath, poet, and scientist. His literary contributions helped establish modern Russian poetry, blending classical forms with his own innovations. Known for his odes and epic poems, Lomonosov emphasized Russian patriotism and intellectualism, significantly influencing both the literary and scientific advancements of his time.
Anna Bunina
Anna Bunina(1774–1829) was the first prominent female poet in Russia, known for her lyric poetry and translations. Her works explored themes of love, nature, and gender, often breaking conventions of her time. Bunina’s writing and success paved the way for future generations of female Russian poets, marking her as a trailblazer in Russian literary history.
Alexander Odoevsky
Alexander Odoevsky (1802–1839) was a Russian poet and philosopher, influential in the early 19th-century literary scene. His works, including The Princess Zinaida and The Dream, blend Romanticism with philosophical musings on society and human nature. Odoevsky’s contributions to literature and his unique blend of lyrical and philosophical elements marked him as a distinctive voice in Russian poetry.
Vladimir Mayakovsky
Vladimir Mayakovsky (1893–1930) was a pioneering Futurist poet, dramatist, and visual artist known for his bold, revolutionary style. His poetry, characterized by energetic rhythms and provocative imagery, embodied the spirit of the Russian Revolution. Works like A Cloud in Trousers and The Backbone Flute challenged societal norms, making Mayakovsky one of the most influential avant-garde figures in Russian literary history.
Konstantin Bogomolov
Konstantin Bogomolov (b. 1975) is a Russian poet and translator, known for his sophisticated and often philosophical poetry. His works, blending personal introspection with broader existential themes, reflect his deep engagement with both Russian and Western literary traditions. Bogomolov’s contributions include translating significant foreign literary works into Russian, enriching the cultural exchange and literary dialogue of his time.
Russian Poetry
