Today I can see your expression is especially sad,

And your arms that are hugging your knees so frail and fine,

But listen: somewhere far off by the distant lake Chad

An exotic giraffe roams about, adorned and refined.

An exquisite figure and a leisurely life are his boon

And a magical pattern that covers his beautiful hide,

Whose beauty can only be rivaled by the brilliant moon

That breaks on the surface of lakes in a tremulous light.

He looks at a distance like the colorful sails of the ships,

His run so smooth, like the birds in the jubilant flight,

I know there's much of miraculous one can glimpse

When in a grotto of marble at sunset he hides.

Of faraway countries I've heard many cheerful songs,

Of an ebony maiden, of a daring and passionate swain,

But you've been breathing this thick foggy air too long,

You wouldn't believe in anything else but the rain.

And how could I tell you about the tropical land,

About the palms and the herbs that one rarely finds?…

Are you weeping? But listen… far off by the distant lake Chad

An exotic giraffe roams about, adorned and refined.

The Giraffe - Nikolay Gumilev

Translated by Alexander Shaumyan

Collab work with Savage-Cynder

Made with: Photoshop CS3, Paint Tool SAI, Tablet

Time taken: 12-15 hours

Savage and sketch © Savage-Cynder

Darky and coloring © Me