Sergey Esenin
My dear, one and only land!..

My dear, one and only land!
Autumn rain from а tin sky drips.
In а puddle а shivering lamp
Reflects а head with no lips.

Better don't look! Or something worse
May е, take me by surprise come
So all this rust-coloured murk
I view through screwed-up eyes.

It's warmer that w ay, hurts less.
Look, miller-like the bell-tower is
Carrying copper sacks of bells
Between the skeleton-houses.

You shall be sated, if hungry,
Cheerful, if stricken by woe.
But do not gape at it, brother,
Earthly brother I do not know.

I did as I had а mind to
It did not alter а thing.
I t seems I've developed а liking
For cold and shivering.

So what? Besides me there are also
Many others alive, not dead.
The lamp's now winking, now guffawing
Though it has no lips in its head.

But my heart under ragged clothing
Whispers to me, earth's guest:
"My friend, the eyes you have opened
Will only be closed by death."

Translated by Peter Tempest