Konstantin Balmont

“Just love!” – sing birches in the rustling voices,
When, in a spring, their earrings outthrust.
“Just love!” – sing lilacs in the color dust.
“Just love, just love!” – sing, in a fire, roses. 

Beware non-love, avoid all that that causes
Indifference. Your noon will slide off fast.
Your morning dawn is burned in dawns of past.
Love love and fire and all dreams it owns.

Who did not love – did not obey the laws, 
Which, in the world, move every constellation,
Making our heaven the great beauty’s choice.

In every hour he hears a dead bells’ voice. 
He’ll ne’er escape the dread retaliation.
Who loves is happy. E’en doomed to a cross.


Translated by Yevgeny Bonver, September, 2003