Mothers

 To memory
   of my dear mother Anastasia

Whenever in Spring I see
               blossom aflame,
And somebody call me
               by my own pet name,
       I remember you, mother of mine.

Whenever at dawn the fresh
               dew sparkling lies,
And someone, all smiles,
                looks me straight in the eyes,
       I remember you, mother of mine.

Whenever my soul feels
               so lucid and light,
And the Sun stands above
                the warm Earth at full height,
        I remember you, mother of mine.

Whenever small boys
                stroll a lane, a brave pair,
And a loving mother
                just dotes on them there,
         I remember you, mother of mine.

Whenever I wish the whole world
                to embrace,
And my head upon someone's
                warm bosom to place,
         I remember you, mother of mine.

Whenever on life's thorny
                difficult way
I wish to discover
                a bright happy day,
         I remember you, mother of mine...

                January 21 1982.
                Moscow.
   Translated from Russian
     by Walter May