The Mermaid
Mikhail Lermontov

A young mermaid once swam and splashed in a stream
That was lit by a full moon's bright beam,
And she struck at the waves, for she wanted to send
The white foam to the moon overhead.

And the stream leapt and danced and rushed noisily on.
And the clouds in its depths whirled and spun.
And the mermaid she sang, and her song echoed o'er
The blue water and high, rocky shore.

Sang the mermaid: "Deep down, hid from everyone's sight,
There are flashes of colour and light,
Crystal cities that give off a magical glow,
Golden fishes that flit to and fro.

"On bright pillows of sand, in the stream's cool embrace,
With the sea grasses shading his face,
Sleeps a knight, of the jealous blue waters the prey,
Sleeps a knight from a land faraway.

"And my sisters and I, when we tire of our play,
By the side of the knight like to stay,
And we comb his silk locks with a gold comb, and his
Ashen brow and pale lips gently kiss.

"But the knight never stirs and, I cannot tell why,
To our kisses he does not reply.
Cold and still lies he there, by a deep slumber bound,
And no murmur escapes him, no sound."

So the mermaid she sang, filled with sadness and pain,
With a sorrow she could not explain,
And the stream leapt and danced and rushed noisily on,
And the clouds in its depths whirled and spun.

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For Children's Illustration, our section on poetry. Maybe a little more... adult, but that's my little bit of rebellion (I have problems with that woman and her wishy-washiness). I adore Lermontov's poetry, and have been wanting to use this one for ages.

Color version (including text) to follow...

2H Pencil on Bristol Board
Image © ME!!! 2006