How do you interpret this poem by Olga Nicolaievna?

[Sarushka]

Pages 485-486 in volume one of Dnevniki Nikolaya II i Imperatritsy Aleksandry Fedorovny 1917-1918 mention this poem in an annotation to Alexandra's diary entry of 23 April 1917. Here is the full annotation in Russian, which includes the completel text of the poem as written down by GD Olga:

Судя по записи, императрица Александра Федоровна продолжала беспокоиться о здоровье своих детей. В ответ она получала знаки глубочайшего внимания и любви дорогих чад. Великая княжна Ольга Николаевна в день именин матери преподнесла ей написанное собственной рукой стихотворение, датированное 23 апреля 1917 г.:

К страданиям чужим Ты горестью полна,
И скорбь ничья Тебя не проходила мимо.
К себе лишь Ты одной всегда неумолима.
Всегда безжалостна и вечно холодна.
Но если б видеть Ты любящею душою
Могла со стороны хоть раз свою печаль --
О, как самой себя Тебе бы стало жаль.
И как бы плакала Ты грустно над собою.
То my beloved Маmа (ГАРФ. Ф. 673. Оп. 1. Д. 73. Л. 1).

[Olga Maria]

IMO, that poem indicates Alexandra's altruistic kindness.

[aleksandr pavlovich]

Attention  "Sarushka:"  Thanks for providing the form  (and apparent language) in which this "poem" was recorded by the GD OH.  It seems now (with this original documentation) to have been written-out/copied in true "poem" style' (justifying the English translation with properly spaced capitals), making me feel (IMO) that it was simply an inspirational  bit of the equivalent Victorian/Edwardian era trivia that the GD Olga N. copied for what she felt was a proper occasion.  Regards,  AP

[*Tina*]

Thanks for posting it in Russian, Sarushka!

[Romanov_fan]

Attention  "Sarushka:"  Thanks for providing the form  (and apparent language) in which this "poem" was recorded by the GD OH.  It seems now (with this original documentation) to have been written-out/copied in true "poem" style' (justifying the English translation with properly spaced capitals), making me feel (IMO) that it was simply an inspirational  bit of the equivalent Victorian/Edwardian era trivia that the GD Olga N. copied for what she felt was a proper occasion.  Regards,  AP

I agree with you.

[aleksandr pavlovich]

Thank you,"imperial angel."  Your opinion is much appreciated, just as mine is an opinion as well!   Best regards,  AP

[historyfan]

And I learned something new.  Thanks, everyone!

[romanov1918]

I interpret it as Olga felt her mother cared for everyone else in their suffering, but was suffering inside herself.  Olga must have known how much her mother was crushed that Alexei was ill, and that Alexandra blamed herself, and was also a wreck worrying about his next injury and if he would die.  Olga must have been very sensitive and saw her mother's suffering.  How sad, I really fell that although the girls were brought up in a palace and were Grand Duchesses, they had a very few friends their own age, and mostly spent their time at home with each other.  They had to see when their brother was ill, and how if affected their mother. 

[griffh]

Sorry about that, as I went to copy Olga's poem and ended up posting a relpy meant for another thread.  Great thread Historyfan.  I think the thing that struck me about the poem is a window into how Russian Olga's sensitivity was.