Marinka, listen, dear Marinka, You, the most near to me and my better half, - If however torn apart, then - one to hundred - A second won’t achieve that. Marinka, listen, dear Marinka, You are lovely like a picture of a kid Who will now answer - what will be then? You, only you, you can - and nodody else! Marinka, listen, dear Marinka, Far away like a fairy-tale from Meterlinka You are my blue bird afar, - Only it’s a pity - they found her in the paradise! Marinka, listen, dear Marinka, Mysterious like the dwelling of the Inka, Come with me! Let’s go somewhere, - I don’t mind where to, but we’ll find it. The poet - and the word don’t get older - It’s said: "Russia, Leta, Lorelei", - Russia - you and Leta, where the dreams are But there is no Lorelei. You - that is you.
© Elisabeth Jelinek. Translation, 2018