Irina Odoevtseva
He told: good-bye, my love, forever...

He told: good-bye, my love, forever,
I won’t come back to you, farewell.
I wandered in my hard endeavour —
Am I in a city hall or hell?

The gate is closed, no exit reading
But where should I go unwanted?
Lo, someone white is slowly treading
Among the trees and blunders haunted.

Here comes it close: a marble statue,
So sparkling in the moonshine light,
It’s whispering to me un-touching
And gazing with white brilliant sight.

— Wouldn’t like we two exchange our natures?
The marble heart won’t die with pain.
I will be you, you-me (so gracious!)
Come on, stay here on the stand.

— Agreed, — I murmured humbly, here
You are: take all my clothes for trend.
The statue gave a kiss: thanks, dear.
I looked at it, that was the end.

My lips are now meant for muteness,
My heartbeat’s stopped and I feel cold,
I’m standing naked like other Muses
Cover’d by the shield I duly hold.

Oh, who am I — what freaky creature
So glazing in the diamond beams,
I’m lucky to possess new nature
Of dreaming marble statue’s dreams.

The dawn has broken, the folk is passing,
What a familiar morning scene!
The rain is weeping: all is past in
My town, my homesick privacy!

Oh, goodness! What an awful venture!
I won’t forget him anymore!
Unluckily I’ve turned a statue,
Unlikely it’ll survive the sore.

Imagine it is far in distance,
Moving in a playful pace.
Imagine me among marble sisters,
And showers pouring down my face.

Translated by Alena Stasiukenene