Innokenty Annensky

Innokenty Annensky was a highly-placed beaurocrat in the state educational system of the tzar Russia. He was married to a much older widow with two children. His hidden passion was poetry that he was writing all his life without publishing (the first small collection of his verses appeared when he was already 50).

At the end of his life, he retired and joined some magazine editorial to start publishing his work - but imagine such a figure among young nihilists in the beginning of XX century. He certainly felt like a dinosaur and died soon, I think being quite unhappy.

His poems are beautiful and delicate, but there is one which is a real star, one of the most beautiful Russian verses of all times, in my opinion. I attempted to translate it, although not precisely, but keeping the original sound. I often read it to myself in Russian, such a wonderful music.

Among the worlds, in light of many stars,
I keep repeating name of only vesper,
I wouldn't say that I'm that much in love,
But it's so dark when I don't hear her whisper.

And when the doubts get heavier for me,
I seek the answer from her dear brightness -
That's not because it's lighter near her:
I need no light in presence of her rightness.

Guess what kind of chart Annensky had to write a starry poem about a star? He was Leo with Sun on Regulus: