It is well known that many love stories are full of separations and reunifications. The story of Andreyev’s creatively sexual relationship with Anna Petrovna Khernova is no exception in this respect. Khernova still has a reputation as one of the most interesting ladies of the Pushkin Hills district. The romantic stage of their relationship did not last long, unfortunately. It ended, according to Anna Petrovna, in an “incredibly expressive fight using kitchen appliances and household equipment”. Destroyed by the separation with his loved one, Andreyev shaves his mustache and travels to Ostrov, where he enrolls into a course of theology at the Ostrov campus of Heidelberg University. During this period he finds inspiration in the Christian mystical teachings and immerses himself into reading of Gnostic texts and Apocrypha. These influences, along with an attempt at a synthesis of popular music and the Eastern attitude to the world, are very clearly visible in the following piece whose very title — Sky Lion — refers to the Christian symbolism, as well as to an ancient Sumerian song:

Man of my heart, my beloved man, your allure is a sweet thing, as sweet as honey.
Lion of my heart, my beloved man, your allure is a sweet thing, as sweet as honey.
You have captivated me (?), of my own free will I will come to you. Man, let me flee with you — into the bedroom.
You have captivated me (?); of my own free will, I shall come to you. Lion, let me flee with you — into the bedroom.
Man, let me do the sweetest things to you. My precious sweet, let me bring you honey.
In the bedchamber dripping with honey let us enjoy over and over your allure, the sweet thing.
Lion, let me do the sweetest things to you. My precious sweet, let me bring you honey.
Man, you have become attracted to me. Speak to my mother and I will give myself to you; speak to my father and he will make a gift of me.
I know where to give physical pleasure to your body —sleep, man, in our house till morning.
I know how to bring heart's delight to your heart — sleep, lad, in our house till morning.

*A love song of Shu-Suen (Shu-Suen B). English translation from The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, Oxford University, UK. Modified.