«He used to come here till he donned gold braid, / a good topcoat on, self-controlled, stoop-shouldered. / Arresting these cafe habitues – / he started snuffing out world culture somewhat later – / seemed sweet revenge (on Time, that is, not them) / for all the lack of cash, the sneer...»
«Hän kävi täällä — ei vielä saapashousuissa: / sarkapalttoossa; kumara, pidättyväinen. / Lopetettuaan sittemmin maailmankulttuurin / kahvilan kantajoukon pidätyksin / hän ikään kuin kosti näin (ei heille, / vaan Ajalle) köyhyyden, nöyryytykset, / kurjan kahvin, tylsyyden ...»
«A far-off time arises in my memory, / The house in the Petersburg Quarters, / A humble daughter of the modest gentry, / Born in Kursk, you are here taking courses. You are cute, — you have many admirers. / This white night, it is only us two, / Sprawling out on your windowsill, tireless...»
«Un’epoca lontana in sogno mi riappare, / la casa nel quartiere Pietroburgo. / Figlia d’una modesta proprietaria della steppa / tu sei all’istituto, tu, nativa di Kursk. Sei carina e hai molti ammiratori. / In questa notte bianca noi due insieme, / rincantucciati sul tuo davanzale, /...»