Bella Akhmadulina
Your house, all without feeling of misfortune...

Your house, all without feeling of misfortune,
Has met me and has smacked me on my cheek.
As if a fish out from water,
Behind the glass looked a tea service.
A dog has leaped out to me,
As small jackdaw, and yelling,
Defenseless burs, all with thorn's heap,
Were sitting there on the window.
From all the suffers of the world
I was the delegate, though frozen,
The house looked at me, it was
So kind and delicate, consoling.
It had not drawn any shame on head,
It was like being frank, not lying.
He swore to me, he never had
Seen a woman ever either.
He said: — I'm empty, void.
I said: — It's there, there...
He said: — Then let. Let go.
Let enter and forget forever.
Oh, how at first I was afraid
To find a handkerchif, a sign,
But house reiterated that
Words and all things shuffled.
He swept her traces, and completely,
He was so perfect in a sham,
That here never falled a tear,
No any elbow leaned at.
As if the thourough surf had washed
All imprints of her shoes entirely,
The empty plate, a button 'f glove,
All presence of her being.
They all agreed: the dog forgot
With whom he'd played, the nail
So small was unaware also,
Who fastened him, and answered vague.
So were the mirrors hollow all,
As if the snow falled, then melted,
No any flower could recall,
Who in a cut glass placed them...
Oh, th' alien house! Lovely house!
Farewell! I ask you only a little:
Don't be so kind. Don't be so kind.
Don't comfort me with your deceit grim.

Translated by Lyudmila Purgina