Bella Akhmadulina
I`m fond of the old speech...

I'm fond of the old speech.
There's a charm in the ancient words.
Compared to the nowaday's one, it
could be much more sharp and modern.

And to exclaim:"The half of empire for horse!" —
What's the irascibility and generosity!
But the futility of my last force
Will bless me also.

One time I'll wake up in the dark,
Losing forever that vain battle,
And to my memory the thought will come,
Decision of the old madman.

Oh, what will be the half of empire for me!
As a learned child of the century,
I'll take a horse, the horse I'll give
For a half-moment with one man,

whom I do love. And God with you,
Oh, my horse, my horse, the horse zealous.
The bridle I'll weaken gratuitously —
then you will reach your dear herd.

You'll reach, you'll reach your herd in steppe,
The deserted one, rusty sheet.
And I've turned tired of the vanity
of that victories and defeats.

I'm pity with a horse! With love I'm pity!
In the medieval manner there lies to feet
the trace of a horseshoe, precise,
only a trace of horse I see.

Translated by Lyudmila Purgina