Olga Berggoltz

And you’ll have strengths enough
To see and know again
How all that was your love
Will start to bring a pain.
Your friend – without blame – 
Will come a werewolf once;
You’ll be by him defamed,
By other ones – repulsed.
They will start to seduce,
And order, “Abrogate!” –
Your heart will be reduced
From fear and regret.
And you’ll have strengths enough
To answer them again:
“From all that was my life
I never will abstain!”
And you’ll have strengths enough,
Having recalled this rake,
To all that you have loved
To cry again: “Come back!”


Translated by Yevgeny Bonver, March, 2002