Andrei Voznesensky
Million roses

There was painter once,
Owned a small home and his art.
But there’s an actress he loved,
Flowers were dear to her heart.

So he sold his house on a whim —
His art and his roof, undeterred —
And spent all the money to buy
A whole sea of flowers for her.

A million, million, million red roses here,
From you room, from your room, from your room, you can view.
One in love, one in love, one in love – that’s sincere! —
Will transform life into flowers for you.

Outside the window, you gaze —
Maybe your mind’s in a daze?
Your dream is continuing there,
Flowers have covered the square.

Your soul turns cold, overwhelmed —
What affluent man went offbeat?
But there, not a penny in hand,
The painter stands in the street.

Their meeting was fleeting, of course.
She left on the train in the night.
But in her life there once was
The mad song of roses outside.

The painter lived all alone.
Through much misfortune and gloom.
But in his life there once was
A square full of roses in bloom.

Translated by Andrey Kneller