Bulat Okudzhava
April is my duty

Look how marvelous it’s getting every hour
But my mother is so sad, I hear her groan,
— How come, you’re out there, my dear,
All alone, all alone?

— From one end of April I head to another.
Stars have grown kinder, brighter in their beauty;
I’m just guarding spring, my dear mother,
April now is my duty...

— But my son, I can’t forget the way you were.
Now your eyes have grown sad and haunted,
Probably she doesn’t even care,
Doesn’t want you, doesn’t want you.

— From one end of April I head to another.
Stars have grown kinder, brighter in their beauty;
I’m on duty, don’t you worry mother,
April now is my duty...

Translated by Maya Jouravel