The earthly glory is like smoke,
I wanted much more than this.
In all my lovers I evoked
The feelings of joy and bliss.
One is still in love somewhere
With a friend from long ago,
The other stands in the city square, —
A statue of bronze in the snow.
Земная слава как дым,
Не этого я просила.
Любовникам все́м моим
Я счастие приносила.
Один и сейчас живой,
В свою подругу влюблённый,
И бронзовым стал другой
На площади оснежённой.
«Don’t disappear… For if that’s what you do, / in pieces from your very self you’ll vanish, / betraying all you are for ever, too — / this basest fraud we only then can banish. Don’t disappear… for it’s too easy and / we find we cannot resurrect each other. / Death pulls us...»
«On a scrap of paper then I scribbled down the long address, / But I couldn’t say goodbye — the sheet I held in fingers’ press. / Sunbeams stretched upon the cobbles. On her lashes and her fur / Hat and steel-grey gloves wet snow began to fall in spreading blur. Then a man appeared to li...»
«They have murdered my Russia, these men, / She is wrapped in a word-stifling shroud! / I will harbour deep sorrowing, then — / Mute remain ’midst the villainous crowd. Sleep, my Russia entombed, oh now sleep, / Till luminous spring that we crave! / When the strobe of your lightning wi...»
«Yes, I dreamt before our parting / I’d be at your wedding feast. / At the porch — and this my dreaming — / You’re the bride; I’m begging beast. Let it happen as I dreamt it, / I beseech you, soothe my qualms — / As you exit, show me pity, / Don’t dismiss me with your alms»