Oh Shinning World

Translated by Herbert Marshall

Oh shining world! Oh quiet world!
World untrammelled, world so free!
Why is it, brother-world, I see
That in your own, your warm good home
          You are chained up, you are walled up,
          (You, the wise one, made a fool of),
By robes of purple choked your breath,
By crucifixes done to death?
                 _____________

Not done to death! Why then, arise!
Over us enlightenment shine,
Enlightenment! ...We'll, brother mine,
Tear up purple robes for foot-rags,
From incense-burners pipes we'll light,
With wonder-icons stoves ignite,
And, brother, with aspergills then
Our new home we'll sweep and cleanse!

                        1860, St. Petersburg