Boris Kokotov. A Confession. Translated by the Author

Also in Translations:

2. Black and white drawing (mythological) 2 (2)
Pen and ink drawing by Nina Kossman
Boris Kokotov. A Confession. Translated by the Author

 
If you thought I was playing games,

Let’s be clear on this account:

I have fallen in love when it was too late,

I have fallen in love, but time ran out.
 

If you thought I was rushing events,

You were wrong: they were rushing us.

I have fallen in love, but it was too late,

I have fallen in love when your love passed.
 

If you thought something here didn’t fit,

Why did you tell me that with a smile?

I have fallen in love like a fool, I admit,

I have fallen in love – is the fault all mine?
 

If you thought time would heal all wounds,

You can keep these illusions if you so desire.

I have fallen in love, but strange though it may sound,

I have fallen in love – not with you, my dear!
 

Признание
 

Если Вам показалось, что я говорил несерьезно,

Уверяю, Вам именно показалось.

Я влюбился когда уже было поздно,

Я влюбился, но времени не оставалось.
 

Если Вам показалось, что я торопил события,

Вы ошиблись: события нас торопили.

Я влюбился когда слишком поздно было,

Я влюбился но Вы уже разлюбили.
 

Если Вам показалось, что всё ещё можно поправить,

Для чего сообщать мне об этом с улыбкой?

Я влюбился по глупому с потрохами,

Я влюбился, но было ли это ошибкой?
 

Если Вам показалось, что время залечит всe раны,

Пребывайте в иллюзиях сколько хотите.

Я влюбился, Вам это покажется странным,

Я влюбился не в Вас, дорогая, простите!
 

About the Author:

Boris Kokotov_2019_2 - Copy (2) (1)
Boris Kokotov
Baltimore, USA

Boris Kokotov was born in Moscow. He has authored several poetry collections in Russian. His translations of works by German Romantic poets were published in “A Century of Translation” (“Век перевода”), an anthology of translated verse, in Moscow. His translation of Louise Glück’s “The Wild Iris” was published by Vodoley (Moscow, 2012). Since 2015, his original work in English, as well as his translations into English, appeared in many literary magazines. He lives in Baltimore.

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Boris Kokotov Борис Кокотов
Bookshelf
1. cover for EWLF Sept. 11 2024. FINAL BOOK_cover Opravdanie martyshki (1)
by Nina Kossman

“Monkey’s Excuse” is a collection of short stories and parables by Nina Kossman, bilingual author of eight books of poetry and prose, compiler of the anthology “Gods and Mortals” (Oxford University Press), artist, and translator of Tsvetaeva’s poems into English.

KokotovL._SY425_
by Boris Kokotov

This collection includes poems written in 2020-2023.  (Russian edition)

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by Marina Eskin (Eskina)

“The Lingering Twilight” (“Сумерки”) is Marina Eskin’s fifth book of poems. (Russian edition)

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by Ilya Perelmuter (editor)

Launched in 2012, “Four Centuries” is an international electronic magazine of Russian poetry in translation.

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