Million Roses - Andrei Voznesensky

Million Roses

There was painter once,

Owned a small home and his art.

But there’s an actress he loved,

Flowers were dear to her heart.

So he sold his house on a whim –

His art and his roof, undeterred -

And spent all the money to buy

A whole sea of flowers for her.

A million, million, million red roses here,

From you room, from your room, from your room, you can view.

One in love, one in love, one in love – that’s sincere! -

Will transform life into flowers for you.

Outside the window, you gaze -

Maybe your mind’s in a daze?

Your dream is continuing there,

Flowers have covered the square.

Your soul turns cold, overwhelmed –

What affluent man went offbeat?

But there, not a penny in hand,

The painter stands in the street.

Their meeting was fleeting, of course.

She left on the train in the night.

But in her life there once was

The mad song of roses outside.

The painter lived all alone.

Through much misfortune and gloom.

But in his life there once was

A square full of roses in bloom.

1981

Жил-был художник один,
домик имел и холсты.
Но он актрису любил,
ту, что любила цветы.

Он тогда продал свой дом –
Продал картины и кров –
и на все деньги купил
целое море цветов.

Миллион, миллион, миллион алых роз
из окна видишь ты.
Кто влюблён, кто влюблён, кто влюблён – и всерьёз! –
свою жизнь для тебя превратит в цветы.

Утром встаёшь у окна –
может, сошла ты с ума?
Как продолжение сна,
площадь цветами полна.

Похолодеет душа –
что за богач там чудит?
А за окном без гроша
Бедный художник стоит.

Visit Russian Poetry in English for more of my translations