Sergey Esenin
The evening light of the saffron land...

The evening light of the saffron land,
Quietly are the roses running along the fields.
Sing a song to me dear,
The one that Khayyam sang to you.
Quietly are the roses running along the fields.

With the moonlight is Shiraz alighted,
The fly hive of stars is dancing.
I don't like that the Persians
Keep women and girls under the veil.
With the moonlight is Shiraz alighted.

Are they frozen with the warmth,
Hiding the bronze of their flesh?
Or don't they to be loved more,
Want suntan on their face,
Hiding the bronze of their flesh?

Dear, don't make friends with a veil,
Learn this commandment in short,
For anyhow our life is short,
Little can we marvel the happiness.
Learn this commandment in short.

Even the unbeautiful in destiny
Is alighted with its own joy.
That's why it's a sin to cover
The beautiful cheeks to the world
Since they're given by nature.

Translated by Lyuba Coffey