Andrei Voznesensky
Saga

You will awaken me at dawn
And barefoot lead me to the door;
You’ll not forget me when I’m gone,
You will not see me anymore.

Lord, I think, in shielding you
From the cold wind of the open door:
I’ll not forget you when I’m gone,
I shall not see you anymore.

The Admiralty, the Stock Exchange
I’ll not forget you when I’m gone,
I’ll not see Leningrad again,
Its water shivering at dawn.

From withered cherries as they turn,
Brown in the wind, let cold tears pour:
It’s bad luck always to return,
I shall not see you anymore.

And if what Hafiz says is true
And we return to earth once more,
We’ll miss each other if it’s true;
I shall not see you anymore.

Our quarrels then will fade away
To nothing when we both are gone,
And when one day our two lives clash
Against that void to which they’re drawn.

Two silly phrases rise to sway
On heights of madness from earth’s floor:
I’ll not forget you when I’m gone,
I shall not see you anymore.

Translated by William Jay Smith and Vera Dunham