*bonus* He was named as verbless

Afanasy Fet

In 1850 a Russian poet Afanasy Fet wrote a brief, deep and pretty vague poem. Read it aloud.

Шёпот, робкое дыханье,
        Трели соловья,
Серебро и колыханье
        Сонного ручья,
Свет ночной, ночные тени,
        Тени без конца,
Ряд волшебных изменений
        Милого лица,
В дымных тучках пурпур розы,
        Отблеск янтаря,
И лобзания, и слезы,
        И заря, заря!..

This poem helped him to get fame and turned Afanasy Fet into a classical poet in Russia.

Перед нами одно из первых подлинно импрессионистических русских стихотворений — а импрессионизм часто ассоциируется как раз с понятием «чистого искусства».

However, have you noticed something… odd? Is there something missing? Can you read it once again thoroughly?

What did you notice?

Yes!

Afanasy Fet didn’t add any verb but you may absoltely clearly understand what was happening.

To make sure, you understood each word, I leave here for you its translation in English.

What do you think about the poem? Let me know.

Спасибо, что прочитал(а) до конца.

P.S. You may visit the poet’s estate if you are in Kursk. Here you can find a guide.

Also, watch how Veniamin Smehov, a Soviet and Russian stage and film actor and director, recites the poem here.