Белла Ахмадулина По улице моей... in English

Along my street just which year in a row
the footsteps of my departing friends do sound.
My friends' departure, sluggish and slow,
pleases only the darkness outside around.

My friends' deeds have declined, there's no more
music or songs in homes of theirs at present,
and only Degas' dancers, as before,
are fixing carefully their light blue feathers.

Well, let fear not wake you up in your beds,
you, defenseless, in the middle of this night
The mysterious passion, my dear friends,
for treachery is clouding your eyes and sight.

Oh Loneliness, how is your temper sharp!
Sparkling with a pair of iron compasses,
how coldly you enclose the circle up,
ignoring the assurances, so useless.

So summon and reward me with the best!
The one, whom you are pampering and caring,
I'll find solace by leaning to your chest.
I'll wash myself with you blue frost, so fairy.

Allow me tiptoeing in your wood space,
at that end of a slow gesture, let me, please.
find out the leaves and bring them to my face,
so that I can breathe the orphanhood as bliss.

Grant me your libraries' peace and repose,
strict music of your concerts, in which to dive,
I, as a wise one, will forget all those
who have passed away or who are still alive

And I will learn the wisdom and the grief,
things will entrust me with a secret meaning.
The nature on my shoulders with relief
will be revealing to me its kid dreaming.

And - out of the darkness and the last tear,
the poor ignorance and past decadence then,
my friends' lovely features will appear
and disappear and dissolve at once again.

30-31 May, 2024
—
Картина: Эдгар Дега Голубые танцовщицы, 1897 г. Источник: Википедия