Beyond Nihilism (for Ellen)

Somewhere beyond nihilism
 there is love,
Somewhere beyond despair
 there is hope,
Somewhere beyond emptiness
      there is God.

Do not question these things,
 walk straight ahead.

Somewhere beyond darkness
 there is light,
Somewhere beyond falsehood
 there is truth,
Somewhere beyond fanaticism
 there is freedom.

Shadowy waters
 rock me in this Ocean—
The answer is life.

Somewhere beyond filth
 there is purity,
Somewhere beyond madness
 there is sanity,
Somewhere beyond time
 there is Eternity.

O blue-eyed Virgin
 with golden hair,
I send you a White Rose
 of Purity.

Now I kiss you
 on this tender bed
 of violets.

Somewhere beyond a No
 there is a Yes,
Somewhere beyond philosophy
 there is Silence.

Do not question these things,
 walk straight ahead.
 

                                           December 25, 1987
                                        --Alexander Shaumyan