The Appeal.Adapted from Alec Vagapov’s translation by Akbar Muhammad.

To my friend and brother Mikhail Shemyakin.

I can read “Dorian Gray” or “Faustus”, however,

To sell my soul, there can’t be any way.

Why listened I to the Gypsies? Won’t repeat it ever!

They prophesied my death up to a day...
Don’t count it, O Lord, put it away,

Don’t mark it in Thy calendar. On no account!

Or, when it comes to that, just change the day,

Lest I should wait for it, lest crows should fly about,

Lest people should sneer and lest lambs should bleat,
From all of them, please keep me safe, I bid,
Don’t Thou linger even a little bit,

Because they can fill up my soul with fear and doubt!

1980.