Маяк [Mayak] [English translation]

Tobacco smoke ate away an air.

The room like a chapter in Kruchenykh's1 hell.

Remember, I stroked your hands and hair

beyond this window, and my heart did swell.

Now we're sitting, our hearts encased in iron.

One more day and you'll drive me out may be with bawl.

My trembling hand won’t get for a whole eon

into the sleeve in the dreary hall.

I shall run away, throw myself on the street,

wild, loosing my head, excised with despair.

Please, don't do it, my dear, my sweet.

Let’s settle now our affair.

My love like a heavy burden, it seems.

It encumbers you wherever you run.

Let me weep out in the last scream

bitter test of the offended groan.

If a bull be exhausted by its toil

it goes away and sprawl in cold bay.

I have no sea except the love in your soul,

there's no way to beg your love for delay.

If an elephant is tired and needs some rest

it lies down like a king in a burning sand.

I have no sun except the love in your breast,

but where are you and who is holding your hand?

If you torment a poet like this, my dear,

he exchanges beloved for the money and fame,

but not a one sound makes glad my ear

except for the sound of your most beloved name.

I'm not gonna drink poison or jump off the stairs,

never trigger of pistol would set me free,

just because that's a fact, that except your gaze,

not a one blade of knife rules over me.

You'll forget tomorrow I have crowned you with praise,

and burned down with a passion the soul in bloom.

The carnival of the fussy days

will tear the pages of my books.

Whether dry leaves of my words could express,

make you stop and breathe in deep emotion?

Give me a chance to pave with the caress

your leaving motion.

1. Russian poet, futurist