Here is what is happening to me: <br />my old friend doesn't come to visit, <br />and in idle vanity <br />come various folk, not those who should. <br />And he <br /> goes about somewhere not with those he should <br />and he understands that too, <br />and our dischord is not cleared up, <br />and both of us suffer from this. <br />Here is what is happening to me: <br />Not the right girl at all comes to visit, <br />she puts her hands on my shoulders <br />and steals me from another. <br />And that one- <br /> tell me for God's sake, <br />on whose shoulders does she put her hands? <br />That one <br /> from whom I was stolen <br />in vengeance also will begin to steal. <br />She won't respond immediately this way, <br />but will live in a struggle with herself <br />and unaware will select <br />someone superfluous for her. <br />Oh, how many nervous <br /> and unhealthy, <br />unnecessary involvements, <br /> unnecessary friendships! <br />Something rabidly desperate in me! <br />Oh, somebody, <br /> come, <br /> break up <br />the conjunction <br /> of people alien to one another <br />and the estrangement <br /> of souls that are kindred. <br /> <br /> <br />1957 <br />Translated by Albert C. Todd<br /><br />Yevgeny Yevtushenko<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/here-is-what/
