[Aaron Poochigian]

I have been greatly enjoying Christian Wiman's translations of selected poems by Osip Mandelstam. This early lyric strikes me as prophetic:

Let Cities Subside To Their Names

Let cities subside to their names,
Brief meanings that flare in the ear:
Washington, London, Moscow, Rome:
Existence is our home, and is here.

Let presidents rule what they can.
Let preachers have their narrow door.
Houses and altars hallowed of man
Are houses and altars, no more.