I’ve stopped drinking. <br /> I love my wife. <br />My own wife- I insist on this. <br />Living so like an angel, <br />I almost quote Shchipachev. <br />This is a shriveled life. <br />I’ve shut my eyes to all other women. <br />My shoulders feel peculiar. <br />Aha! Wings must be sprouting! <br />This makes me anxious. Moody. <br />And the wings keep sprouting-what a nuisance! <br /> How awkward! <br />Now I’ll have to slit <br />my jacket in appropriate places. <br />A true angel, <br /> I bear life no grudge <br />for all its cruel hurts. <br />I’m a true angel. But I still smoke. <br />I’m the smoking type. <br />To be an angel is strange work. <br />Pure spirit. Not an ounce of flesh. <br />And the women pass by. <br />A true angel, what good to them am I! <br />I don’t count for the present, <br />not while I hold celestial rank, <br />but-bear in mind-in this life, <br />a fallen angel is the worst devil of all! <br /> <br /> <br />Translated by George Reavey<br /><br />Yevgeny Yevtushenko<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/i-m-an-angel/
