Желсіз түнде жарық ай

         Тихой ночью при луне

In the silent, luminous night

On the water the moonbeams quiver.

In the gully beyond the aul

Tumultuous, roars the river.

The leaves of the thick-crowned trees

Whisper on hill and dale.

The earth lies sleeping beneath

A shimmering emerald veil.

The mountains respond in a choir

To the shepherd dogs hidden from view.

You come in a flowery dress

To your midnight rendezvous.

At once both bold and meek,

Full of sweet girlish grace,

You furtively look around,

Blushes light up your face.

Not venturing even to speak

With a soft half-sigh, half-groan

On tip-toe you rise and press

Your trembling lips to my own.

Translated by Dorian Rottenberg