From a strict and elegant temple
On the squealing of squares you alight.
Freedom! The beautiful lady
Of marquises and Russian knights.
A dreadful rehearsal is on now —
Still ahead is the mass!
O freedom! The partying woman
On the mad soldier's chest!
Из строгого, стройного храма
Ты вышла на визг площадей…
— Свобода! — Прекрасная Дама
Маркизов и русских князей.
Свершается страшная спевка, —
Обедня ещё впереди!
— Свобода! — Гулящая девка
На шалой солдатской груди!
«The music of the soul is flat, / the music of attack is loud; / but make no haste about that, / you may be wrong in making out / that music of attack is loud, / and music of the soul is flat. / / The louder is the attack, / the sweeter are the lights around; / and that’s the way...»
«When I’m in trouble and totally done / and when all my hope I abandon / I get on the blue trolley bus on the run, / the last one, / at random. / / Night trolley, roll on sliding down the street, / around the boulevards keep moving / to pick up all those who are wrecked and in need...»
«There are lions beside you, dear N. P. / They guard your peace and quiet, like a demon. / I’ve never been a happy man with women, / you are the first one, as far as I can see. / / I say, don’t pick up speed, just take your time, / no trivial words of praise from me you’ll hear, / ...»
«All night the roosters uttered cries, / and swayed their necks like crazy, / as if they were reading rhymes / declaiming in a frenzy. / / And in those cries there was the kind / of bitterness, aroused / by the unwanted man’s defiant / appearance in the house. / / Far-far away...»