Old Horse, a photograph by Aaron Siskind (1903-1991)
Whispers, by Afanasy Fet (born 5 December, 1820; died 3 December, 1892)
Whispers. Timid breathing. Trilling
Of a nightingale.
And below the runnel rocking,
Sleepy, silver-pale.
Strange nocturnal lights and shadows,
Shadows that enlace.
Row on row of magic changes
On the dearest face.
Smoky cloudlets, rose and purple,
With a tinge of fawn.
Kisses. Ah, and tears among them.
And the dawn, the dawn!
(translated from the Russian by Babette Deutsch)
