Ode to Saint Petersburg

Snowy landscape with a statue of Peter the Great, the first Russian Emperor, covered by snow.
My photo of St. Isaac Cathedral and The Bronze Horseman (Peter the Great’s Statue), 2017.
The Spire of the Admiralty Building with an angel on top is visible, while the building itself is blocked by the snow-coated trees.
My photo of The Admiralty, 2017
The facade of the Winter Palace, framed by icy branches of trees.
My photo of the Winter Palace, 2017
Roses blooming in the Peterhof Gardens, surrounded by greenery.
My photo of The Peterhof Palace Gardens, 2020
Saint Petersburg - the city of the Dead,
Where dreaming spirits haunt the mist-cloaked streets.
A diadem of rubies crowns your head,
And silver armour lines your mighty fleet.

Let myriads of angels guard your spires
Against the pain and suffering of war:
Rejoice, the bygone northernmost empire,
Built on deception, cruelty, and gore!

The Winter Palace flaunts its azure gown -
A ballerina on the frozen lake,
Whose beauty flares, as if about to drown
Beneath the burden of her last mistake.

May a luxuriant, wild garden grow
Where once was land of misery and snow.

Ceci n’est pas une Rose

This painting features a rose blooming alone on the edge of a cliff surrounded by the sea; it is dawn, and there are beautiful clouds in the sky blending with the horizon.
L’utopie (Utopia) by René Magritte
This surrealistic painting captures a gigantic red rose, occupying an entire room.
Le tombeau des lutteurs (The tomb of the wrestlers) by René Magritte
This surreal image portrays the ocean ic beach at sunset. Instead of the sun, there is a large rose, which seems to float on the waves.
L’invitation au voyage (The Invitation to Travel) by René Magritte
A portrait of a woman gazing longingly at a rose in her long golden hair. There are impressionistic visions of the sea and the mountains in the background.
Le Roman Populaire (The Popular Novel) by René Magritte
If you were a rose,
You would hide in the dark
Until I discovered your delicate spark.

If you were a rose,
Every flower would fade,
Entranced by the perfume which you radiate.

If you were a rose,
Your soft, velvety skin
Would cover my eyes with the raptures unseen.

If you were a rose,
I would kiss your wild thorns,
Crimson with blood, as it lingers and burns.

If you were a rose,
You would bloom all year long,
Drinking my tears when I cry, all alone.

If you were a rose,
You would grow in my heart,
Entwining it gently, as you tear me apart.

My garden has blossomed 
With sorrow and loss.
Why didn't you tell me that you were a rose?

An Acrostic Sonnet to My Readers

This painting portrays a young woman standing by the sea in a light flowing dress. She is bending her head to observe a shiny pearl in her hand.
“The Sea Hath its Pearls” by William Henry Margetson
This impressionistic artwork depicts the back of the woman, with her head resting on her hand. She is looking at the summer scenery and the vast blue sky above her.
“Longing” by Heinrich Vogler
To all of you, entranced by subtle verse,
Here lies a gift concealed between the lines -
As though a scintillating pearl, enclosed
Naively by the effervescent rhymes.
Kindling above the fervent windswept waves,
Your gentle words transcend the leaden clouds!
Ornate, like scarlet flames, the heartfelt praise,
Unvanquished, burns away my puerile doubts.
So I remain a prisoner, alone
Ordained to dwell in the Siberian steppe -
May there be solace - when the warmth is gone,
Upon your eyes, rains softly my regret.
Creating threads of poetry at night,
How blessed I am to have your vibrant light!

The Infinity of Destinies ~ Dedicated to E.

This painting depicts the Ancient Greek poetess, Sappho, as she faces the stormy ocean, standing on the cliff's edge in flowing white clothing. According to the legend, Sappho threw herself off the cliffs of the Greek island Leucadia, due to losing her lover.
Sappho by Miquel Carbonell i Selva (1881)

“The storm is coming!” So the tidal waves utter, crashing into cliffs and spattering their violent embraces across the roaring shore. There is only one dark silhouette standing quiescently amidst the oncoming water. A young lady with dark, shadowy eyes fixed on the edge of the Earth is singing, as her raven hair wavers in the forceful gusts of poignant oceanic air…

Continue reading “The Infinity of Destinies ~ Dedicated to E.”

Бесконечность Судеб

This painting depicts the Ancient Greek poetess, Sappho, as she faces the stormy ocean, standing on the cliff's edge in flowing white clothing. According to the legend, Sappho threw herself off the cliffs of the Greek island Leucadia, due to losing her lover.
Sappho by Miguel Carbonell Selva (1881)

“Шторм надвигается!” – глухо шипят волны прилива, разбиваясь о скалы и разбрызгивая свои яростные объятия по стонущему берегу. Среди подступающей воды в неподвижном ожидании замер мрачный силуэт. Юная девушка с тёмными глазами, устремлёнными на край Земли, поёт, а её волосы цвета воронова крыла развеваются в мощных порывах ледяного океанического воздуха…

Continue reading “Бесконечность Судеб”

A reading of my poem “The Storm”

Dear Reader, I invite you to embark on a perilous journey across the Atlantic. This multimedia project featuring visuals of a tempestuous ocean was inspired by Vivaldi’s masterpiece – Presto from “Summer” (The Four Seasons).
It's Sunset. All the sea is covered by a lunar mist,
Although the distant land seems near.
The clouds thicken, as the salty dunes embrace and twist - 
Caressingly, away they steer.

Let the audacious wind disturb the airy sail: 
We have no fear of storms and saints, 
Between the hidden rocks manoeuvring without fail, 
Forgetting our old complaints.

The thunder rumbles ruthlessly and sways the sturdy deck -
A portent of misfortune grim.
The lightning's arrow left an incandescent track:
Don't take this darkness for a dream!

Encompassed by the icebound gloom and shreds of silver foam, 
Which soars to the stars, like smoke, 
We enter murky caves - where myriads of luring sirens roam: 
Beware of their mellifluous talk!

Alas, the only beacon of a fragile hope had sunk, 
These waters will be our demise!
The wild forget-me-nots entwine my burning lungs: 
"In time, life sheds its thin disguise."

The Night. With their amber eyes, the fervent harpies gaze, 
Awaiting the horrendous end.
Hold on! Amidst the chaos, we'll mount the towering waves: 
Embracing firmly, hand in hand.

Above the broken mast, a thunderbird is cawing briskly:
"Take off! It's time to spread your wings!"
Our life has flashed before our eyes, the moments - meagre, beastly - 
How evanescently they gleam!

Look, now the brutal current swirls, deluging our vessel: 
The helm is captured by the tide!
Don't cry, my dear, you're not alone, for we are still together - 
Love will eclipse the ninth wave's height.

Although the rampant ocean unfurled its grim abyss, 
We won't disperse without a trace: 
The wreckage of our troubled souls the water shall release 
Into the long-forgotten bays.

Transfigured by the tempest's rage, we swim to terra firma, 
Untarnished by the years forlorn.
As though the sleeping wanderers, awakened by a murmur, 
Our eyes behold the sun. It's Dawn!



The Serpent’s Sonnet

Lilith and Eve by Yuri Klapouh. In this Painting, Lilith, a feathery-winged Serpent with an upper body of a very  attractive woman, seduces Eve with an apple in the garden of Eden.
Lilith and Eve by Yuri Klapouh
Cupid and Psyche by Kinuko Y Craft. This picture portrays a curly-haired woman in a flowing dress, desperately clasping her arms around a semi-transparent vision of an angel. The angel gestures her to go away, as he ascends into Heaven. There are cupids and clouds in the background.
Cupid and Psyche by Kinuko Y Craft
Spleen et Idéal by Carlos Schwabe.  This painting was based on the book by Charles Baudelaire, Les Fleurs du mal (Flowers of Evil). "Spleen" is depicted as a female demon  embracing the "Ideal" portrayed as a male angel, who is trying to break free from the embrace. Both of them are half-covered by a gigantic wave.
Spleen et Idéal by Carlos Schwabe
I wish I could find solace in your eyes,
Where shadows lurk beneath the diamond glow.
Although our paths have parted long ago,
Your arms remain the gates of Paradise! 

My sinful soul must pay a fatal price
To enter Eden, as it did before:
The Seraphim avert when I deplore,
For neither words, nor prayers will suffice.

Although your image pierces like a knife,
My heart will mend itself with threads of tears - 
Abide in memory, remorseless Saint!
Through death, the Phoenix gains eternal life,
Thus, I forsake the futile earthly fears,
Awaiting for my agony to end…