Nikolay Rubtsov
In my room

Full of light is room of mine.
Light is coming from afar.
So brightly heavens shine
Twinkling with a bright night star.

Keeping silence all the time
Dear mother takes a pail.
Stars above still brighter shine
And the water tastes like ale.

Dark-red flowers of mine
In my garden all did die.
And in low waters' clime
Soon the boat will rot and die...

Shadow from willow, like lace,
Slumbers softly on my wall.
Tomorrow's day, I'll face,
Will be troublesome all-in-all.

I'll be constructing canoe.
Till nigth star arises at noon.
I shall water flowers too
Thinking of my own doom.

Translated by Lyubov Kalmykova