Ilona Martonfi’s most recent poem to appear here was “Fish Crow” (July 2017). 

Old Rus’ wedding
By Ilona Martonfi

Tradition to be wed wearing
linen sarafan, red kokoshnik

headdress tied with silk ribbons
pearl necklace, turquoise beads

I, Olga, daughter of peasants
married off at fifteen

needed to prove only my chastity.

Village of Dyutkovo
surrounded by fields, a forest
clucking hens, geese,

one-room timber izba
last week, Sunday
Yuri came to ask father
for my hand in marriage

Yuri, a freed serf, renting arable land.
The betrothal acceptance
nineteenth century bride’s lament:

“A very young girl I am,
I just cannot imagine at all
how shall I live among strangers . . .”

The women getting up before sunrise
to fetch water, stoke the fire

bake a round wedding loaf,
kneaded with salted water and honey.