| Deutsch and Yarmolinsky, comps. Modern Russian Poetry. 1921. | | | | The Angel | | By Mikhail Lermontov (1814–1841) |
| | | THROUGH the heavens of midnight an angel was sped | |
| Who lifted his chant as he fled. | |
| The moon and the clouds and the stars leaned to hear | |
| The song rising holy and clear. | |
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| He sang of the spirits, the sinless, the blest, | 5 |
| Who softly in Paradise rest. | |
| Of the gardens of God, and of God was his song, | |
| Ringing true as a heavenly gong. | |
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| He bore a young soul to the dark gates of birth, | |
| Toward the travailing, sorrowful earth. | 10 |
| And flying, he sang, and the eager soul heard | |
| The deathless, the unuttered Word. | |
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| And the years in the world could but sadden and tire | |
| The soul filled with wondrous desire. | |
| And vainly the dull songs of earth would have stilled | 15 |
| The song wherewith heaven had thrilled. | | | | |
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