Marina Tsvetaeva
The rich man loved a poor woman...

The rich man loved a poor woman,
The scientist loved a dumb woman,
The ruddy man loved a pale woman,
The kind man loved a bad woman,
And the gold a copper coin.

«Where, merchant, is your wealth all?»
«In a wallet that's full of holes!»

«Where, proud one, is what you know?»
«Under a girl's pillow.»

«Where are your red cheeks, gorgeous sight?»
«Whitened down in the black night.»

«Where is the cross with silver chain?»
«Under the girl's boots again.»

Rich man don't love a poor woman,
Scientist don't love a dumb woman,
Ruddy man don't love a pale woman,
Kind man don't love a bad woman,
And the gold a copper coin.

Translated by Ilya Shambat