Marianna

“For my country has taken so little care
of me that even the sharpest spy could
go over my whole spirit and would
detect no native stain there.”
― Marina Tsvetaeva, Selected Poems

“And tears are water, blood is water,
a woman always washes in blood and tears.
Love is a step-mother, and no mother:
then expect no justice or mercy from her.”
― Marina Tsvetaeva, Selected Poems

“Know how to will, and you will be free, and will lead.”
― Ivan Turgenev, First Love

“I opened my veins. Unstoppably
life spurts out with no remedy.
Now I set out bowls and plates.
Every bowl will be shallow.
Every plate will be small.

And overflowing their rims,
into the black earth, to nourish
the rushes unstoppably
without cure, gushes
poetry ...”
― Marina Tsvetaeva, Selected Poems