Red-Nosed Frost

There are women in Russian villages
With calm dignity of faces,
With beautiful power in movements,
With a queenly stride and gaze—

Can a blind man not notice them,
But one who sees tells about them:
“Goes by—like the sun lights them up!
Looks—gives a ruble in her way!”

They go the same road,
Which the whole people walk,
But the dirt of the poor surroundings
Sticks not to them, as if.

A beauty, to the world’s delight,
Blushed, slender, and tall,
Lovely in any clothing,
Ready for any work.

She endures both hunger and cold,
Always patient, steady…
I’ve seen how she mows:
One swing—ready, a whole sheaf!

Her headscarf slipped to her ear,
And you’d think her braids would fall.
Some guy slipped the chance
And tossed them up—laughing!

Heavy russet braids
Fell on her dusky chest,
Covered her bare little feet,
Stopping the peasant woman from looking.

She brushed them aside with her hands,
And glares angrily at the boy.
Her face is stately, like in a frame,
Burning with embarrassment and rage…

On weekdays she doesn’t like idleness.
But you can’t know her, with her smile of laughter,
When it drives away the hard-won stamp of work.

You won’t buy such hearty laughter,
Such songs and dances
For money. “Enjoyment!”
The men repeat among themselves.

In play, her horse won’t catch her,
In trouble, she won’t flinch—she’ll save;
She’ll stop the horse mid-run,
And enter a burning hut!

Beautiful even teeth,
Like big pearls, are hers,
But strict, blushing lips
Keep their beauty from people—

She smiles rarely…
She has no time to sharpen talk—
Not one neighbor dares to ask her
To grab a pot, to borrow a bowl;

She doesn’t pity the poor and beggarly—
Let them wander without work!
A seal of strict decency and
Inner strength lies on her.

In her is clear and firm awareness:
That their salvation is in labor,
And labor brings her reward:
No one in her family fights need,

They always have a warm house,
Fresh-baked bread and tasty kvass,
Healthy and well-fed children,
And an extra slice for the feast.

This woman goes to the liturgy
Ahead of the whole family:
A two-year-old child sits on her chest,

And the dressed-up mother leads
Her six-year-old son in line…
And this picture warms the heart
Of everyone who loves the Russian people!