The Drooping Rose Needs No Make-Up… Poem by Janri Gogeshvili

You just die, – you just pass away,
And it’ll be all right, OK…
Your wife will read the Psalms
In a soft voice and prey.
She’ll weep a little and lament,
She’ll wear mourning dresses and fret,
And whisper to the dearest
Daughters and sons:
“My kids, your father
Has turned to dust…”
You just die, – you just depart,
And it’ll be OK… it’ll be all right.
The violets and the snowdrops
Will wipe out the winter,
The tiny bird will weave
Passion with twitter,
And the breeze
Will sing night’s tale to the leaves…
The widow will look in the mirror,
And take a pencil in her hand…
No make-up is needed, you know,
For a rose drooping her head…
She may notice your gaze, –
The zeal heavy with years,
She may see the sham
Mirrored in your eyes…
Then she’ll smile… and shed tears…
You’ll pity her and think
You’d better stay with her,
You’d better look
After the cornfield of your desire…
You’d better work with all your heart,
And reap what you have sown…
And let your beautiful wife
Be a violet to you… or a rose…

17.01.2003

Translated from Georgian