To the Moon

 O graziosa luna, io mi rammento
Che, or volge l'anno, sovra questo colle
Io venia pien d'angoscia a rimirarti:
E tu pendevi allor su quella selva
Siccome or fai, che tutta la rischiari.
     --Giacomo Leopardi (1798-1837)

The time has come for you to cast your light,
O moon!  So full and radiant once more--
You've guided me so many times before
Through loneliness and tears late at night.
When I could not express my pain in words,
You showed me in the tears that I cried
The vision that recurred within my dreams--
O silent moon!  You taught me every time
This wretched world is not the way it seems.
But in the darkness I can see your light,
No matter how extreme the pain,
You bring me back that vision once again,
Reminding me that it was worth the fight--
This love I feel for her each night and day.

 
                                             June 1, 2000
                                        --Alexander Shaumyan