К *** [Я помню чудное мгновенье...] [K *** [Ya pomnyu chudnoe mgnoven'e...]] [English translation]

I still recall the wondrous moment:

When you appeared before my sight

As though a brief and fleeting omen,

Pure phantom in enchanting light.

In sorrow, when I felt unwell,

Caught in the bustle, in a daze,

I fell under your voice’s spell

And dreamt the features of your face.

Years passed and gales had dispelled

My former hopes, and in those days,

I lost your voice’s sacred spell,

The holy features of your face.

Detained in darkness, isolation,

My days began to drag in strife.

Without faith and inspiration,

Without tears, and love and life.

My soul attained its waking moment:

You re-appeared before my sight,

As though a brief and fleeting omen,

Pure phantom in enchanting light.

And now, my heart, with fascination,

Beats rapidly and finds revived

Devout faith and inspiration,

And tender tears and love and life.

• Artist:Aleksandr Pushkin