I desire no love and no honor:
They intoxicate — no falling away!
I don't even desire an apple
Tempting — from hawker's tray..
Something drags behind me like chain,
Soon the thunder will sound in the sky...
How I desire —
Oh how I desire —
Very quietly simply to die!
Не хочу ни любви, ни почестей:
— Опьянительны. — Не падка!
Даже яблочка мне не хочется
— Соблазнительного — с лотка…
Что-то цепью за мной волочится,
Скоро громом начнёт греметь.
— Как мне хочется,
Как мне хочется —
Потихонечку умереть!
«I’ll take a bag, a helmet and a ration, / a jacket of protective coloration, / I’ll tramp about the streets, a barracks lodger, / it’s easy to become a real soldier. / / I will forget my daily cares and pledges, / I do not have to think of jobs and wages. / I’m playing with my...»
«I’ve sung all my songs. / I’m out. / So don’t talk about it now. / Though, maybe, a line, or a sound, / has been left out somehow. / / The wheels spin above and around it, / and though it can’t swing at one dash, / naive and quite simple-minded, / it’s eager to dazzle an...»
«What a wonderful and lovely night we’re having! / But my mother is alarmed and worried strongly. / — Why do you stay out at these hours, darling, / on your own / and so lonely? / / — I’m on my way towards the end of April, dear, / I should say, the stars have grown kind and ro...»
«to Nikolai Gritsuk What happens to the many / who dream about it all, / when artist Pyrosmani / comes our of the wall? / / Out of simple settings / and boring livelihood, / he goes to sell his paintings / to buy himself some food. / / He’s thin and pale as ever, / but trie...»