The Poetry of
Michael G. Khmelnitsky

I loved you, as but man could purely love
Some building dissolute upon some crook
Of this street crossed with that, but no one stopped
To look. If even idly passing by,
They'd give no notice to these lights of yours,
Or cheerful verdure standing in those pots;
This spot, it was quite simply overlooked.
Then, nature's law I cannot comprehend,
This end of ends, this gross ignominy.
But even hollowed, like stern warning, you
Are mourning me, you show with unschooled might
How without caution, time appointed none—
At first, your greenery, then half your light—
You're emptied of all things, resolved and done.