Summer Kingdoms

[Ilya Shambat]

You are princess from other kingdoms
He's your knight, ready for all...
How much in you is childish, dear,
How I fathom the joy in your soul!

In the light grove of birches, where
Shines blue water among the leaves,
It is good to exchange the answers,
It is good to be a princess, yes.

On quiet evening, melting slowly,
Where there's pines, swamps and moss
It is good over dying bonfire
To talk about the sunset verse

To return on the road perilous
With eternal companion - moon,
To be a strict and sly princess
Moonlit night, road through the woods.

Go take pleasure in autumn ringing,
Dear knight, like a page in love,
And then the princess, green-eyed,
This world is yours even if brief!

Don't be ashamed of the soft words!
Know: Youth and the wind are one!
You assembled and parted proud,
Even if we see the cup's bottom.

It is good to be beautiful, fast
And, with bonfires teasing the dark,
To admire the mindless sparks,
And like sparks to burn up in flight!

By Marina Tsvetayeva
Translated from Russian by Ilya Shambat