Royal Swans: Five Days of the Cygnus

Beginning in 1917, Russian poet Marina Tsvetaeva wrote about the events that were shaping Russia, primarily the abdication of the tsar and the rise of Communism. She ceased documenting events in 1920, when the White Army was defeated and hope was essentially lost for a return to the old ways. Her series of poems were entitled "The Encampment of the Swans," with the swans referring to the White Army (of which her husband was an active member).

Once again, we bring swans back to Russia. But then again, that's where we began.

An excerpt:

 All this is simple, as blood and sweat are:
          A Tsar for a people, a people for a Tsar.
          All this is clear as two's secret, shared:
          Two together--the Spirit's third.
          The Tsar's raised from heaven upon his throne.
          This is as pure as sleep and snow.
          The Tsar will climb to his throne again, yet--
          All this is holy, as blood and sweat.

(Easter Monday--and he had less than 3 months to live--M.Ts.)
1918

Trans. David McDuff (1987)