I Taught Myself To Live Simply

I taught myself to live simply and wisely，

　　to look at the sky and pray to God，

　　and to wander long before evening

　　to tire my superfluous¹ worries.

　　When the burdocks rustle² in the ravine

　　and the yellow-red rowanberry cluster droops³

　　I compose happy verses

　　about life's decay， decay and beauty.

　　I come back. The fluffy⁴ cat

　　licks my palm， purrs so sweetly

　　and the fire flares⁵ bright

　　on the saw-mill turret⁶ by the lake.

　　Only the cry of a stork⁷ landing on the roof

　　occasionally breaks the silence.

　　If you knock on my door

　　I may not even hear.

Anna Akhmatova