Aleksandr Pushkin

         When in the times – the old and good –
         Was met a ghost or apparition,
         Satan, for sure, was out-pushed
         By spell of simple composition:
   ’Amen, amen, break up!’ In our days,
There’re not a lot of imps and different apparitions;
Just Heavens know where they now lay their ways.
         But you my genius, kind or vicious,
         When I am seeing so close
Your profile, and sweet eyes, and curls of pure gold, 
         When hearing your gentle voice
          And speeches so lovely, bold –
          I’m charmed; I burn, and cannot pray,
         And shudder before my ghost-goddess,
         And to my heart, in fancies gorgeous – 
    ‘Amen, amen, break up!’ – I say.


Translated by Yevgeny Bonver, November 10, 2003