Sergey Esenin
Don`t you look at me so reproachfully...

Don't you look at me so reproachfully.
I do not bear malice to you,
But I like your appearance awfully
And your seeming modesty, too

Yes, you seem to be openhearted,
And I'd rather be glad to see
How a fox pretending departed
Catches crows like you want to catch me.

Try to catch me, I won't be daunted
Mind, you don't have your ardour restrained!
Many girls of your kind have haunted
Stumbling over my heart that waned.

It's not you that I love, my dearie,
You're only an echo, a shade,
I imagine a different girlie,
Oh so beautiful blue-eyed maid!

Though she isn't so humble-looking
And appears to be rather cool,
Her majestic manner of walking
Has rekindled the depth of my soul.

She's a girl that cannot be cheated,
Notwithstanding your will she'll entice,
Whereas you can't be possibly fitted
In my heart with embellished lies.

Though I scorn you, yet like a layman
I will shyly and openly say:
If there weren't any hell and heaven
Man would think something up anyway.

Translated by Alec Vagapov