The Bakchesarian Fountain and Other Poems

A careful translation brings together a vivid Russian poem and several shorter works that capture the elegance and melancholy of 19th‑century verse. The translator’s dedication to his Russian friends shines through, offering listeners a window into a world of distant courts, whispered sorrows, and quiet resilience.

The opening piece unfolds in a hushed harem where a lone khan wrestles with restless ambition and a weary heart. Its vivid images of marble fountains, silken carpets and watchful eunuchs evoke both the splendor and the confinement of an exotic realm, while the poet’s language drifts between fierce power and tender yearning. The rhythm carries the listener through the courtiers’ muted expectations and the subtle betrayals that pulse beneath the serenity.

Beyond this centerpiece, the anthology presents a mosaic of voices—each poem distinct in tone yet united by a shared sense of longing and reflection. Listeners will appreciate the delicate balance of historical texture and universal emotion, finding a quiet resonance in every translated line.