“Hosanna!”

“Hosanna! Hosanna! Come forth
In the name of the Lord!”
And with a furious rattle in his chest,
With the fire of the netherworld
In his glittering, festering eyes,
Swelling every vein in his neck,
Howling ever more menacingly,
The cripple flings himself into the dust
On his knees,
Having forced his way through the noisy crowd,
Baring his teeth,
Gap-toothed and foaming,
And spreading his arms in supplication,
For vengeance, for vengeance,
For a bloody feast for all those passed over by fate,
And You, All-Good One, quiet evening Light,
You come amid the deceived rabble,
Lowering Your sorrowful gaze,
You enter on a meek young ass
Through the fateful gates, to disgrace,
To crucifixion!

Literal translation

Ivan Bunin, The Entry into Jerusalem