The candle

(by Oleg Bondar)


It’s burning on and melting on
This little candle…
In amber of the tears,
The candlestick is crying,
And mystically a sight
Over the flame is flying:
I’m screwing up my eyes –
And visions will revive.
It’s burning on and melting on
This dreamy candle…
Small snowflakes round dance
Over the frozen ground,
And in the trembling light
Is suddenly arising
And waveringly lives
Your nice and lovely sight.
It’s burning on and melting on
This dear candle…
The could wind to me
Is bringing fume from fields,
And in the candle flame
Is burning stilly down
The little wick of hope
Gust like my Fortune thread.
It’s burning on and melting on
This lonely candle…
The moments fly away,
And there’s none of it,
I now close my eyes,
But no it is not out –
And only with me
Of hope will die the light…

                Translated from Russian
                by
                Semion Berenstein.