Tobacco smoke has consumed the air. br The room br is a chapter in Kruchenykh's inferno. br Remember - br beyond that window br in a frenzy br I first stroked your hands. br You sit here today br with an iron-clad heart. br Oone more day br you'll toss me out, br perhaps, cursing. br In the dim front hall my arm, br broken by trembling won't fit right away in my sleeve. br I'll run out, br throw my body into the street. br I'll rave, br wild, br lashed by despair. br Don't let it happen br my dear, br my darling, br let us part now. br After all br my love br is a heavy weight br hanging on you br no matter where you go. br Let me bellow a final cry br of bitter, wounded grievance. br If you drive a bull to exhaustion br he will run away, br lay himself down in the cold waters. br Besides your love br I have br no ocean br and your love won't grant even a tearful plea for rest. br When a tired elephant wants peace br he lies down regally in the firebound sand. br Besides your love br I have br no sun, br but I don't even know where you are and with whom. br If you tortured a poet like this, br he br would berate his beloved for money and fame, br but for me br no sound is joyous br but the sound of your beloved name. br I won't throw myself downstairs br or drink poison br nor can I put a gun to my head. br No blade br holds me transfixed br but your glance. br Tomorrow you'll forget br that I have crowned you, br that I burned my flowering soul with love, br and the whirling carnival of trivial days br will ruffle the pages of my books... br Would the dry leaves of my words br force you to a stop br gasping for air? br br At least let me br pave with a parting endearment br your retreating path.