Reciting poetry.... Translated by Alex Sitnitsky Lilichka! Instead of a letter Tobacco smoke corroded the air. The room - is a chapter in Kruchenykh's hell. Remember - this window, Here I stroked your hands in a frenzy. Well, Your heart encased in iron. Reviling, You'll throw me out, perhaps, one day. My arm will break out in tremor, while I fight with the sleeve in your dim doorway. Lashed by despair I'll run out. I'll become frantic hurling my body into the street. Don't let this happen, dearest, beloved. Let's say good-by now and then let's split. I know, my love, it's a heavy burden and weighs you down wherever you run. Wait! Let me bellow out all words in - one last cry of bitter complaint. If an ox is exhausted by hard work - it goes off to lie down in cool sea water to relieve the pain. Apart from your love there is no harbor, and even through tears - no respite from you to obtain. When a tired regal elephant craves rest, it lies down in the scorched sand. Apart from your love there is no sun for me. The best knowledge is not to guess where and with whom you are. And if she can so wear a poet down, he would gladly trade her for money and fame, to me - there is no such joyful sound but that of your beloved name. I won't throw myself down in the stair-well - when your face is dour - nor drink poison nor press the trigger to my breast. Except for your gaze, nor razor has any power, except for your hands there is no rope my neck to caress. Tomorrow you will have forgotten that I crowned you, and burnt out a blossoming soul with my love, and the blasted carnival of the fussy autumn will ruffle my books with a thunderlike laugh... Will the dry leaves of my words make you pause, just for a second, gasping for breath? Let me at least, lay the path for your, callous, departing steps with the last tenderness.