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“Summer Kingdom” by Marina Tsvetaeva 🇷🇺 (8 Oct 1892 – 31 Aug 1941)
Translated from the Russian by Ilya Shambat
You are princess from other kingdoms
He’s your knight, ready for all …
How much in you is childish, dear,
How I fathom the joy in your soul!
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In the light grove of birches, where
Shines blue water among the leaves,
It is good to exchange the answers,
It is good to be a princess, yes.
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On quiet evening, melting slowly,
Where there’s pines, swamps and moss
It is good over dying bonfire
To talk about the sunset verse
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To return on the road perilous
With eternal companion—moon,
To be a strict and sly princess
Moonlit night, road through the woods.
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Go take pleasure in autumn ringing,
Dear knight, like a page in love,
And then the princess, green-eyed,
This world is yours even if brief!
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Don’t be ashamed of the soft words!
Know: Youth and the wind are one!
You assembled and parted proud,
Even if we see the cup’s bottom.
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It is good to be beautiful, fast
And, with bonfires teasing the dark,
To admire the mindless sparks,
And like sparks to burn up in flight!