Years Later by Mikhail Seleznev

Quiet morning, beautiful spring

Warmed by the sun's warmth;

I stood above the sleepy river

Remembering the swan with a wounded wing

Everything suddenly repeated itself

And I saw how once in reality

How in vain the white bird fluttered,

Trying to fly up into the blue sky.

And above it  circled a faithful friend

With a strong flap of  its wings it  beckoned into the distance

In flight without changing the chosen circle

Being unable to fly away alone,

In cries of grief, despair, sadness,

In the helpless attempt of faithful birds

You and I were confusedly silent

Without revealing our sad faces to each other.

And then in the spring you whispered to me,

Those distant words came back to me again:

Wipe away tears, you firmly promised

My love will also be a swan.

I am here again and alone instant,

And as if the swan, that was stricken.

Native land, beloved and distant,

I remember you - I have not forgotten