Konstantin Balmont

Once, I asked the free wind, blowing over,
“How can I stay young all my days?”
Playing, answered me this timeless rover,
“Just be airy as winds on their ways!”

“What’s the greatest precept of the being?”
I asked, farther, the power sea. 
The sea answered me, soundly singing,
“Just be full of the sounds like me!”

And I asked sun, the highest and hottest, 
 “How can I flare up brighter than dawn?”
She was silent – this golden-faced goddess, 
But my soul heard clearly ‘Just burn!’


Translated by Yevgeny Bonver, August, 2003