I envy. This secret <br />I have not revealed before. <br />I know there is somewhere a boy <br />whom I greatly envy. <br />I envy the way he fights; <br />I myself was never so guileless and bold. <br />I envy the way he laughs- <br />as a boy I could never laugh like that. <br />He always walks about with bumps and bruises; <br />I’ve always been better combed, intact. <br />He will not miss all those passages in books <br />I’ve missed. Here he is stronger too. <br />He will be more blunt and harshly honest, <br />forgiving no evil even if it does some good; <br />and where I’d dropped my pen: 'It isn’t worth it...' <br />he’d assert: 'It’s worth it! ' and pick up the pen. <br />If he can’t unravel a knot, he’ll cut it through, <br />where I can neither unravel a knot, nor cut it through. <br />Once he falls in love, he won’t fall out of it, <br />while I keep falling in and out of love. <br />I’ll hide my envy. Start to smile. <br />I’ll pretend to be a simple soul: <br />'Someone has to smile; <br />someone has to live in a different way...' <br />But much as I tried to persuade myself of this, <br />repeating: 'To each man his fate...' <br />I can’t forget there is somewhere a boy <br />who will achieve far more than I. <br /> <br /> <br />Translated by George Reavey<br /><br />Yevgeny Yevtushenko<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/envy-13/
