First edition of the last of the poet-translator’s books to be published by Liren’, the publishing house he founded together with Aseev in 1914. ‘Mary light the snows [and set the meadows playing]’ is a reference to a Russian folk-name for 1 April, the feast-day of St Mary of Egypt and the traditional start of spring. Author of several collections of verse, Petnikov (1894–1971) is best remembered for his translations of the Grimms’ fairy tales and of Greek myths.

Tarasenkov p. 298; not in Kilgour.

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