Marina Tsvetaeva
Attempt at Jealousy

How can you live with another woman —
Simpler? — Pull at the oar! —
Head for the coast line
Soon your memory will have departeded

of me, the floating island
(In the sky — not in the sea)!
Souls, Souls! — You'll be sisters,
Not lovers - you!

How can you live with a simple
Woman? Who lacks god's gifts?
The queen of the altar
Is overthrown (by the groom above)

How can you live — fussing —
Shivers? Getting up — how?
In those deadly trivialities
How do you cope, poor man?

«Hysteria and convulsions I am through —
Enough! Home, I am self employed».
How can you live with any ordinary lover —
My chosen one!

Suitable and edible —
Food? Fed up — no one to blame...
How can you live with someone —
Who trampled underfoot [the laws of] Sinai!

How can you live with someone,
Here? Is this — love?
Shame, does Zeus with his reins
Not whip your forehead?

How are you living — healthy —
How is it? Singing poetry — how?
With a poisened immortal conscience
How do you cope, poor man?

How can you live with commodities
That are salable? Price — terrible?
After Carrara marble
How can you live with cheap plunder

Plaster of Paris? (carved from blocks
God — and smashed to bits!)
How can you live with one of the hundred thousands —
You, do remember Lilith!

Novelties for sale
Do they suit you? Watered down magic,
How do you live with a mortal
Woman, who lacks a Sixth

Sense?..
Ha, how is your head: happy?
No? In a pit of no depth —
How are you, dear? It all depends,
The same as I with another man?

Translated by Rolf W. F. Gross