Zinaida Gippius
To young century

It's thirteen now! Quite recently
We welcomed greeting it with love.
At thirteen, wilfully and boldly
It showed its nature well enough.

Again, your day of birth is coming...
You vicious naughty boy! For once
Do not expect either good wishes
Or great festivities from us.

And if the dear land of ours
Used to be burnt and poured with blood,
Do you, Young one, really have to
Act like your father and granddad?

They're different. For you know better.
You are fated to a different thing.
And yet somehow our new wine "sherry"
You pour into the old wineskin.

Do you repent and cry? No words!
"I'm waiting — says the world, — I mean,
You'd better leave the bloody roads
At least when you are fifteen!"

Translated by Alec Vagapov