Memory has veiled
much evil;
her long lies leave nothing
to believe.
There may be no cities
or green gardens;
only fields of ice
and salty oceans.
The world may be pure snow,
a starry road;
just northern forest
in the mind of God.
Память скрыла столько зла
Без числа и меры.
Всю-то жизнь лгала, лгала.
Нет ей больше веры.
Может, нет ни городов,
Ни садов зеленых,
И жива лишь сила льдов
И морей соленых.
Может, мир – одни снега,
Звездная дорога.
Может, мир — одна тайга
В пониманье Бога.
«I’ll take a bag, a helmet and a ration, / a jacket of protective coloration, / I’ll tramp about the streets, a barracks lodger, / it’s easy to become a real soldier. / / I will forget my daily cares and pledges, / I do not have to think of jobs and wages. / I’m playing with my...»
«I’ve sung all my songs. / I’m out. / So don’t talk about it now. / Though, maybe, a line, or a sound, / has been left out somehow. / / The wheels spin above and around it, / and though it can’t swing at one dash, / naive and quite simple-minded, / it’s eager to dazzle an...»
«What a wonderful and lovely night we’re having! / But my mother is alarmed and worried strongly. / — Why do you stay out at these hours, darling, / on your own / and so lonely? / / — I’m on my way towards the end of April, dear, / I should say, the stars have grown kind and ro...»
«to Nikolai Gritsuk What happens to the many / who dream about it all, / when artist Pyrosmani / comes our of the wall? / / Out of simple settings / and boring livelihood, / he goes to sell his paintings / to buy himself some food. / / He’s thin and pale as ever, / but trie...»