Σκουριάζει το χρυσό και το ατσάλι παίρνει σήψη,

η πέτρα θρυμματίζεται, ο θάνατος παντού.

Πάνω στη γη πιο σταθερή η θλίψη

και πιο μακρόβιος ο λόγος του σοφού

I Taught Myself to Live Simply

I taught myself to live simply and wisely,

to look at the sky and pray to God,

and to wander long before eveningto tire my superfluous worries.

When the burdocks rustle in the ravine

and the yellow-red rowanberry cluster droops

I compose happy verses about life's decay, decay and beauty.

I come back. The fluffy cat

licks my palm, purrs so sweetly

and the fire flares bright

on the saw-mill turret by the lake.

Only the cry of a stork landing on the roof

occasionally breaks the silence.

If you knock on my door

I may not even hear.

Anna Akhmatova