Я зажег в церквях все свечи [Ya zazheg v tserkvyakh vse svechi] [English translation]

I have lit all candles in churches,

But I left one in a corner,

So that my friend once in autumn

Would go light it in my honour;

So that my trek, long and lingering,

Would then seem to me much shorter;

So that my soul, after sleeping,

Back to Russia would then potter.

There where having torn the body

It’s been saved alive forever;

Fought for days, at nights went warbling,

And no rest provided never.

Warmed with ice, fed with the sky meal

Life, wept goin’ through St. Pete’s needle,

Kissed with ripe snow, and kept trying

To caress with fire kindled.

Left deprived of earthly loving,

Granted faith instead—and anguish—

At the same time qualifying

Life with an enormous jag dash;

Neither home, nor house, nor money—

Only gall and worries fashioned,

And the laid-back sunset coming,

Having neither door, nor threshold…

I have lit all candles in churches,

But I left one in a corner

So that my friend once in autumn

Would go light it in my honour;

So that my trek, long and lingering,

Would then seem to me much shorter;

So that my soul, after sleeping,

Moving homewards would then potter.

I absolved the hierarchy’s

Sins—so that they’d pray for my sake;

All the drinks I would imbibe make

A great toast to you, my Russia…