Fedor Ivanovich Tyutchev 

Translation by Alyssa Gillespie

​

Just as the oceans compass all the earth,

So earthly life is compassed by illusions;

The night descends – and ocean’s blue profusion

Flings resonant waves upon the shore.

That elemental voice: it nags, beseeches…

Already in the port the magic bark

Has roused; the tide flows in and soon will speed us

Into the measureless roiling dark.

The vault of heaven burns in starry glory;

It gazes out mysteriously from the depths –

And, steeped in the abyss’s flaming fury

On every side, we journey forth.