I have left Russia - I’m no longer there!
My girls walk in tears through their day.
I now sow my wild oats without care
On the foreign fields of Champs Elysées.

Someone mutters on a streetcar passing:
"He’s not here! He’s at last gone bye bye!
Let him sing now his songs foreign-fancy
About the palace over there in Versailles."

I hear behind me the trading of news:
"Not that one! He left! Ask if you please!"
"Not that one?" And they elbow through
And in taxis they sit on their knees.

A Magadan cell I had shared
With my Civil War friend, who says now
That I’d written him from over there,
"I’m bored, Vanya, come over somehow!"

I’ve already asked to be retaken
I had begged, I had pleaded and called...
But I won’t return! This is mistaken -
Because I never did leave at all!

I’ll give presents to all who believed
So that they’ll get a movie happy end:
L’Arc de Triomphe you’ll receive!
The Renault factories, take them, friend!

I am laughing, I’m dying from laughter!
How this nonsense was ever believed!
Do not worry - I haven’t left hereafter,
And don’t hope, either - I will not leave.