#alexander pushkin

At Eden's gate a gentle angel

Stood shining with a bowed-down head,

While dark and fierce, the rebel demon

Above the hellish chasm sped.

The spirit born of doubt and scorning

Upon the spirit pure did gaze,

And felt, through unexpected yearning,

A tender warmth for the first days.

"Forgive me," then he softly uttered,

"I saw you, and your light was true;

Not all within this world I hated,

"Exegi monumentum" - Alexander Pushkin

"And long the people yet will honour me

Because my lyre was tuned to loving-kindness

And in a cruel age, I sang of Liberty

And mercy begged of Justice in her blindness"

June 2026

A raven to his brother flies,

The raven to his brother cries,

«Brother dear, where shall we dine?

To get something would be fine.»

Alexander Pushkin, “The Raven to the Raven Flies” (1828). Based on the traditional Scottish ballad “The Twa Corbies” (“The Two Ravens”).

"In a fall of snow, the first of the season, they stand and dream and watch the footprints disappear in the will of heaven; absorb the sounds of water-objects drown in a deeper music, and shiver as light breaks in their hearts and something vastly woeful hangs at their eyes." – Arthur Gregor, "First Snow, Brooklyn Harbor"

It's snowing at JSTOR HQ! Curl up with a blanket and a warm beverage, because we're sharing 10 poems with you that capture the spirit of winter. This season is approached distinctly by each poet, some taking a pensive tone and others leaning into seasonal cheer.

We hope these poems inspire you to create some winter art of your own!

"The Winter Seasons" by Richard Frost

"Winter Evening" by Alexander Pushkin (transl. Eugene Mark Kayden)

"Snow" by Lucy Larcom

"Winter Poem" by Margan Dutton

"First Snow, Brooklyn Harbor" by Arthur Gregor

"First Light, Late Winter" by Floyd Skloot

"Winter Remembered" by John Crowe Ransom

"Last Winter" by H.D.

"A Winter's Tale" by Dylan Thomas

"A Suite for Winter" by Francis Fergusson