Fyodor Sologub (Pseudonym of Fyodor Teternikov) (b. 1863)

BELOW a pine’s rough shadow,

Where loud the river sings,

The hairy-handed devil

Pushes his devilish swings.

He swings, and gives a crow,

To and fro

The boards creak, bending low,

The taut rope rubbing slow

Against the heavy boughs.

The board sways back, and bracing,

With a long creak swings wide,

The devil, still grimacing,

Guffaws and holds his side.

I tremble to let go;

To and fro

I sway and cling, but no,

My languid glances grow

Fast where the devil tows.

Above the looming pine

The blue fiend’s sniggers sting:

“You found the swings so fine,

Well, devil take you, swing!”

Below the shaggy pine

They squeak and whirl and sling:

“You found the swings so fine?

Well, devil take you, swing!”

The fiend will not release

The board that hangs too steep

Till I am thrust toward peace

By the dark hand’s dread sweep.

Until the hemp turns round

Too long, and is worn free,

Until the broad black ground

Comes flying up to me.

Above the pine I’ll fling

And bore into the mire.

Then swing, devil, swing—

Higher, higher, higher!