Я памятник себе воздвиг нерукотворный... [Ya pamyatnik sebe vozdvig nerukotvornyi...] [English translation]

Exegi monumentum

I've erect myself a monument not made by man,

The people path to it will never overgrow,

Ascended higher with it's unruly head

Than Alexander's column.

No, completely, I'll never die-in sacred lyre my soul

Will escape decay, my ashes will survive-

And famous I'll be, until under sublunar world

At least one poet will be alive.

A word about me, will spread across great Rus',

And I'll be called by any tongue they speak,

And proud son of Slav, and Finn, and now wild Tungus

And friend of steppes- Kalmyk.

And long I'll be remembered by the people for a reason,

That with a lyre, I've awakened kind feelings,

That in my cruel century I've praised the Freedom

And mercy for the fallen I've called on.

To God's will, be obedient, oh Muse,

Be not afraid of insult, don't demand the crown,

Libel and praise accept like nothing new

And do not argue with a foolish clown.