To the Tsesarevich Alexei

By Sergei Bekhteyev

(Translated by Helen Azar)

In the days of hopeless sorrow

In the days of common human weakness,

Your image, so pure and gentle,

Draws us in with wonders of the past;

Draws us in with its luminous eyes

With genuine kindness,

Draws us in with its celestial features,

Draws us in – with its unearthly beauty.

And all mistakes are forgotten

As well as griefs that torment us,

Having seen that regal smile

From your innocent young eyes.

And all our idle dreams,

Become insignificant in our hearts,

And our selfish and anxious fears,

And paltry voices of destitution.

And in these sweet moments,

Before a soul renewed

Your image pure and holy

Appears like a blessed vision…

 

“Why?! – a wild scream is blasting-

Why did this lot fall on us ?! “-

Because at Marxists’ feet

Tsarevich Alexei fell in mud..

(By Gleb Gorbovsky)