Can You Tan Before Waxing

Happy Presentation of the Lord!



Giovanni Bellini, Presentation at the Temple


about 1469 Oil on canvas, 80x105 cm
Venice, Museo della Fondazione Querini
Stampalia

Candlemas

Anna Akhmatova

When she was first introduced to the church
child is inside of
number of people who were there ever,
Saint Simeon and the prophetess Anna.

And the old man took the baby from the hands of
Mary, and three people were standing around
babe how shaky frame,
in the morning, lost in the darkness of the temple.

That temple was surrounded them as missed first trimester forest.
From the looks of the people and from the sight of heaven
top concealed, being able to spread-eagle,
that morning, Mary, the prophetess, the elder.

Only on top of his head randomly ray
light fell on the child: but He is nothing
did not know yet, and snuffle sleepily,
resting on the strong hands of Simeon.

And it was to tell the elder
these things that he sees the darkness of death
not before will see the Son of God.

is finished. And the elder said: "Today,

once spoken words are stored,
you with the world. Lord, let me go,
then that my eyes have seen it
child: He - Your extension and light

source for idols chtyaschih tribes,
and glory of Israel in Him. " - Simeon
umolknul. Silence surrounded them all.

only echo the words, touching rafters,

circled for some time after
over their heads, lightly rustling
under the arches of the temple as a kind of bird,
that can fly, but can not down.

And strange it was. There was silence
no less strange than speech. Embarrassed,
Maria was silent. "Word-what ...»
And the elder said, turning Maria:

«In today lying on your ramen
a transgression of some, the rise of other,
subject of wrangling and a reason for discord.
And the same weapon, Mary which

tormented his flesh will be.
Your soul will be wounded. Rana Sia
will see you that is hidden deep
in the human heart, as a kind of an eye. "

He finished and walked toward the exit. Following
Maria, stooping, and the weight of years
stooping Anna silently watched.
He went on decreasing in value and in the body

for these two women under the shadow of the towers.
Almost customize their views, he
walked in the temple of congealed empty
to belevshemu vaguely doorway.

And the old man's gait was firm.
Only the voice of the prophetess back when
rang, he reined in his little step:
but there hailed him, and God

prophetess praise has already begun.

And the door closer. Clothing and Chela
already touched on the wind and ears stubbornly
burst noise of life behind the walls of the temple.

He went to die. And not in a street rumble
it, the door opened his arms, stepped,
but deaf ownership of death.

He walked in space, bereft of the firmament,

he heard the sound of lost time.

And the image of the child with brightness around
fluffy crown of death Path
soul Simeon carried before him

as a light in that black darkness,

which hitherto has anyone
illuminate the road itself has not happened.
lamp shines, and the trail widened.

Joseph Brodsky

March 1972