Kolibel'naya Irmo (Irmo's Lullaby) from the songs of the Black Lute Lyrics and Music: Nienna (Natalya Vasilyeva) Translation: Maureen S. O'Brien Sleep, children of the burned city, As in the depths of a bottomless well: To your destiny of fetters undying, and To your calling -- white with gold; Herbs of parting and herbs of oblivion, White poppies -- healing peace... The willows bow toward the dark water -- Sleep, not having known the Star's Names, Sleep, kept oblivious of pain, Sleep, children of the burned city: To you, not starved out of the forest chopped down, Remembered with wormwood wine. Tears and grief, fear and alarms, Memory of home, memory of the road, Who you are, where you're from, and of whom you don't stop, -- So words disappear from the parchment, -- What you lost and by whom you won't be -- All you will forget, all you will forget... Shadows and flecks of light I entwine in incantation, Silent herbs I enchant: Sleep -- and your dreams will be lit indeed -- As, unheard by you, the wind weeps... I, in my own sorrow, am immortal, And I know neither oblivion nor herb. ----------------------------------------------------- This translation provided by Maureen O'Brien for the benefit of fans whose Russian is even worse than hers.