Marina Tsvetaeva
Earthly name

Give me a glass of water for my searing
thirst: — or else, I’ll die! —
Persistent — languid — lyrical — endearing —
My feverish cry —

I keep repeating it – each time more sternly
Once more — again —
Like in the dark, where you are strongly yearning
To sleep — but can’t.

As if the meadows were somehow depleted
Of soporific herbs!
Persistently — to no avail — repeating
Like infant’s words…

With every moment all the more conclusive
A noose — constrained…
And if — it’s but an earthly name — I’m using, —
What’s in a name?

Translated by Andrey Kneller