Marina Tsvetaeva
Boy-Madness

I have brought you a bouquet,
Scarlet-red roses, poppies.
I'm not same in anything,
I'm the happy boy-madness.

I'll blow out a yellow candle —
It will be a flashlight pink.
And a golden diadem
I will wear like a king.

I'm a conqueror sleepy
Kingdoms, a mage. Is't full, King?
I'm a doctor that is healing
Without pills or medicines.

Why the medicines? Why pills too?
We will dance together, kid!
Now flies mounted on a chair
A completely empty bed.

Where he's from — it is my secret:
Serpent, red, will weave and hiss.
I am laughing, all are laughing.
I'm the happy boy-madness.

Translated by Ilya Shambat