In that magic forest, towering trees <br />Unexpectedly come forward from the haze. <br /> <br />Out of the earth, roots spring from other roots, <br />Like the arms of the dwellers of burial vaults. <br /> <br />Under the cover of the blazing autumn leaves <br />Lonesome giants, trolls, and lions used to live. <br /> <br />Here sailors saw the tracks in golden sand <br />Left behind by a six-fingered human hand. <br /> <br />Peers of France and Arthurian valiant knights <br />Never set on this forbidden place their sights. <br /> <br />Nor the bushes ever hid a pirates’ lair, <br />Nor a hermit ever made his lodging there… <br /> <br />Only once, they saw in a lurid tempest’s light - <br />Cat-headed woman softly stepped into the night; <br /> <br />Doomed to wear a solid silver coronet, <br />She was lamenting and sobbing till the sunset. <br /> <br />No communion was given by a priest <br />When, by quiet dawn, she passed away in peace. <br /> <br />All this happened, all this happened in those years, <br />Which have passed without leaving any trace. <br /> <br />All this happened, all this happened in a realm, <br />Which would never come across your wildest dreams. <br /> <br />I imagined all of this by looking at <br />Fiery braids that always snake around your head, <br /> <br />Looking at your ever changing greenish eyes, <br />They're akin to Persian feverish turquoise. <br /> <br />Well, perhaps that forest is a soul of yours, <br />Well, perhaps that forest 's always my remorse. <br /> <br />Or perhaps, one day when we will die, <br />To this forest we will travel – you and I.<br /><br />Nikolai Stepanovich Gumilev<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/forest-19/
