Luke King-Salter

Acrylic on card, 21 x 14.8 cm. 2020. SOLD

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This painting was inspired by Fyodor Tyutchev's poem "Silentium!"

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  Seal thou thy lips, to none impart
  The thoughts and dreams that fill thy heart.
  There they'll flare up, there sink and die
  As do the stars up in the sky
  When o'er the Earth night's shadows creep. . .
  Take joy in them—and silent keep.

  No secret of the soul begot
  With others canst thou share, for what
  Are thoughts, once voiced, but common lies.
  Churn up a stream, and silt will rise
  And darken it. . . Drink, drink thou deep
  Of waters clear—and silent keep.  

  Live in the world of self—thy soul
  Contains of magic thought a whole
  Bright universe. . . The noise of day
  And daylight are its foes. . . Essay
  To banish these; if joy thou'd reap
  Hear thy heart's song—and silent keep.

 

(Translated by Irina Zheleznova)

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