Nikolay Grebnev

Men, every morn we are waking and laughing,
Knowing not what will bring us this day.
When day has come, we are swearing and huffing;
Look! Here is coming an evening again.

Day, going out, robs us of our treasures – 
Strength and good bravery – our main…
And we are left with maturity senseless – 
As with a burka, put on after rain.


Translated by Yevgeny Bonver, June, 2001