Margarita Aliger

I always pay, I always pay –  
'a step's made – pay a fee!'
But sometimes come the funny day,
which I would live for free.
And life again is kind to me
and pours on me its silks, 
but secretly prepares such bills 
that, through a pair of months or years,
I’d pay a double, may be…


Translated by Yevgeny Bonver, March, 2001