If you’re good-looking — let’s hook up together!

by Tatiana Neshumova
translated by J. Kates

* * *

A esli vì krasivìe – znakomÝtesÝ na ulicah!

If you’re good-looking — let’s hook up together!
If you’re bad-looking — write a dissertation!
And if your dissertation isn’t accepted,
Then do something creative — say, take up baking!
And if what you bake needs butter or salt,
Then call me — I am sweet, good-looking, saintly,
I’ll come to you right away and bake it for you.
And, good-looking, if you don’t want to meet me,
And, doctor egghead, you don’t want my company,
And, candyman, you don’t want to feed your Tanya,
Tell me, what should I do?  What should I make of my life?

* * *

It’s still impossible for me to get a feeling for this space
Which after my life will stretch out eternally.
I’m just tired.  Nothing but nasty water
From the clouds, and empty talk with you.
Wrap it up and be quiet.  In this world of fathers and sisters
How easy it is for me simply to understand
The words of your speech, like an ember mixed in,
Fanning the fire . . .
Being in the kitchen and cooking a tasteless dinner.
Maybe I’ll write a manifesto of realism?
Talking to you or not to you or just to myself.
Or of surrealism?