With Oars at Rest

Boris Pasternak 1890 (Moscow) – 1960 (Peredelkino)



A boat is beating in the breast of the lake.
Willows hang over, tickling and kissing
Neckline and knuckles and rowlocks-O wait,
This could have happened to anyone, listen!

This could be used in a song, to beguile.
This then would mean-the ashes of lilac,
Richness of dew-drenched and crushed camomile,
Bartering lips for a start after twilight.

This is-embracing the firmament; strong
Hercules holding it, clasping still fonder.
This then would mean-whole centuries long
Fortunes for nightingales' singing to squander.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

24 sec read
92

Quick analysis:

Scheme XXXX AXAX BCBC
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 526
Words 83
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4

Boris Pasternak

Boris Leonidovich Pasternak was a Russian poet, novelist, and literary translator. more…

All Boris Pasternak poems | Boris Pasternak Books

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