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Sergei Esenin Vagankovo Monument and Final Poem Translation

Esenin Memorial in Vagankovo
Esenin Monument in Ivanovo

I had a long walk in Vagankovo Cemetery today, the place where a lot of celebrated Russians were laid to rest. Among them is Sergei Esenin, famous for his village-inspired poetry, a romance with Isadora Duncan, and untimely suicide-murder in Astoria Hotel in St. Petersburg at the age of 30. Back in 2006, on a chilly autumn evening I translated his final poem that he scribbled in blood on a piece of paper.

Farewell, my friend, farewell to thou.
You’ll remain forever in my heart.
We shall meet again one day from now,
And for that we have been meant to part.
Farewell, my friend, see you in time.
Don’t frown in sadness or in grief.
There is nothing new about dying
In this life, like it’s not new to live.

© Julia Shuvalova 2006

Original Russian text: 

До свиданья, друг мой, до свиданья.
Милый мой, ты у меня в груди.
Предназначенное расставанье
Обещает встречу впереди.

До свиданья, друг мой, ни руки, ни слова.
Не грусти и не печаль бровей.
В этой жизни умирать не ново,
Да и жить, конечно, не новей.

1928 г.

error: Sorry, no copying !!