She wore a dark veil to hide how she felt
but the way she was wringing her hands said it all.
“Why,” I asked, “are you so pale today?”
“Last night I gave him a taste of my rage,
made him drink it all in; he was stunned, as if drunk.
“He staggered out, hurt into wordlessness, still,
the twist on his mouth was as good as a scream.
I saw what I’d done. I ran down the stairs,
fingertips barely grazing the rail.
“I howled, with gasps in between,
I was kidding — I can’t believe
you thought I was serious — don’t go —
that would kill me. He,
with a smile of creepy calm said this,
Don’t stand out here without your coat
in the cold wind.”
Сжала руки под темной вуалью...
«Отчего ты сегодня бледна?» —
Оттого, что я терпкой печалью
Напоила его допьяна.
Как забуду? Он вышел, шатаясь,
Искривился мучительно рот...
Я сбежала, перил не касаясь,
Я бежала за ним до ворот.
Задыхаясь, я крикнула: «Шутка
Все, что было. Уйдешь, я умру».
Улыбнулся спокойно и жутко
И сказал мне: «Не стой на ветру».