Evgeny Evtushenko
It’s snowing whitely in the town...

It’s snowing whitely in the town.
Before its final endless fusion.
I wish I lived forever young
And feeling happy for illusion.

I am the snowflake in space,
Flying to dream in darkness planning,
Where clouds and souls are face to face,
They won’t come back to our planet.

I’m not afraid of death, it’s true.
It’s only our final message,
To find my mission or the clue
And learn and pass my earthly lesson.

I’m not a dreamer or the like
I’m not like snow, a star or sun.
I will be back to Heaven’s pike,
I shall be gone, forever gone.

Oh, I believe I’ve found my track.
And where is end? Reward account?
I come to finish looking back:
What was the sense, the goal planned?

I love my homeland in full,
With all my heart and decent passion,
I grew into its woods and pools
And dived inside its silver ocean.

I love its nature and its folk,
Its homes hidden in mountain secrets,
Its culture, history and jokes,
And ancient knights and senior citizens.

Whatever wrong-I wouldn’t care,
I dedicate myself to nation,
I wished to be its secret hero,
Its loyal servant and its page.

I dare to think (I may be wrong!) —
My life is full, complete and well-spent.
I ‘ve done my best – my land goes strong,
Most flourishing and wealthiest.

Oh, let it be when I am gone,
It leaves behind my memory,
I wish my land wouldn’t be forgotten
And famous everlastingly.

It’s snowing whitely in the town,
Like in the daytime of Creation,
I leave my heritage for young —
For further future generations.

It’s snowing heavily in space
In brilliant white and gleaming shine.
The snow will cover our trace,
The footsteps you will never find.

I’m mortal man, but I believe
My hope will never die in vain,
My native Homeland shall live
And I shall live in it again.

Translated by Alena Stasiukenene