Bulat Okudzhava
The song of artist Pyrosmani

to Nikolai Gritsuk

What happens to the many
who dream about it all,
when artist Pyrosmani
comes our of the wall?

Out of simple settings
and boring livelihood,
he goes to sell his paintings
to buy himself some food.

He’s thin and pale as ever,
but tries to keep his head,
the deer he paints, however,
look healthy and well-fed.

There’s Margaret, the beauty,
lying in grass, at rest,
a mole stands out cutely
upon her open breast.

The world rejoices, bragging,
amidst the cheerful cries,
meanwhile he paints his Maggie
and waits till she arrives.

He cared much for life and
held it in high esteem...
but there was not enough of
soup in the world
for him.

Translated by Alec Vagapov