Trafika Europe 13 - Russian Ballet

Aleksandr Kushner

to irina evsa

Vesuvius preserved these frescoes for us. If it hadn’t erupted neither the female dancers Nor the duck with the spear of grass in its bill Nor the gold flowers and fish would have reached us.

I love this villa of mysteries, The flagellants, the naked Bacchante, Such a red as I’ve never seen! The yellow cloak with its brown lining. So thank you, slivery ash, Corner brace, pumice, stone rain, For preserving all this magnificence! But don’t you pity the perished Pompeians?

Given the choice, which would you choose: the art Or the lives of these Romans, the men and women? You’d choose their lives. And so would I. Isn’t it sad? For, after all, life is short, and doesn’t shine with anything.

-----

252