Mikhail Svetlov
An Old Lady

Times aren’t what they were like, people feel dislocated,
And the ground underfoot’s not the same, don’t you doubt it.
Was a time with their God people cooperated,
Then they had second thoughts-they would manage without Him.

Granny dearest, you haven’t a body to talk to.
In the crowd, like the poet, you feel isolated.
The left side of the Nevsky’s* not easy to walk to
At this hour of noon for one unsophisticated.

With old age people get to be rather tight-fisted.
Take a tram, all you pay is the tiniest fare —
Seven copecks, and it’ll transport you to Vasilyevsky,**
For ten-it would take you the devil knows where!

I’ve been lately engaged in re-doing my poem,
Here’s the something or other I got for the pleasure.
Take the money, Maria Ivanovna, no problem...
Seven copecks for fare and the rest for good measure.

My friend, you admire the heroic and martial,
You sculpt the inspiring beauty of prowess.
You’ll pardon me, but to old ladies I’m partial.
Believe me though, that’s the sole vice I possess.

___
*Nevsky — Nevsky Avenue, the main street in Leningrad.
**Vasilyevsky — the Vasilyevsky island is part of Leningrad.

Translated by Lidia Kmetyuk