Alexander Pushkin

To E. N. Ushakova

To E. N. Ushakova - fact Summary

Addressed to Ekaterina Ushakova

Pushkin writes from youthful infatuation, addressing Ekaterina Ushakova as a consuming presence. He compares vanished folkloric apparitions to the living “ghost-goddess” of his beloved, whose profile, voice, and golden curls leave him enchanted and unable to pray. The repeated exclamation attempts to break the spell but ultimately admits the poet’s rapture and inner turmoil. The poem blends playful folklore imagery with sincere passionate obsession.

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When in the times – the old and good – Was met a ghost or apparition, Satan, for sure, was out-pushed By spell of simple composition: ’Amen, amen, break up!’ In our days, There’re not a lot of imps and different apparitions; Just Heavens know where they now lay their ways. But you my genius, kind or vicious, When I am seeing so close Your profile, and sweet eyes, and curls of pure gold, When hearing your gentle voice And speeches so lovely, bold – I’m charmed; I burn, and cannot pray, And shudder before my ghost-goddess, And to my heart, in fancies gorgeous – ‘Amen, amen, break up!’ – I say. Translated by Yevgeny Bonver

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