Александр Сальва - Of modern and true love // О современной и настоящей любви

While we were studying our classes,
Inspired by the books of love,
And clearly seeing all life’s dullness,
While having left our years behind.

And then without any notice
Among the daily fuss and stir
This event suddenly arose,
Of which you further will be told.

Please meet my heroes: they are splendid,
So beautiful in their youth,
They still don't know even a bit,
That it’s of them we tell the truth.

I probably will start with the heroine:
No, not in Moscow she was born,
In countryside where she was living,
Her early days had slowly gone.

In dullness. Though her parents loved her,
Praised every moment, all her steps
And they were saving for a dowry,
For worthy life, as good as that.

Days passing by, she became bored
Among her family and friends,
And then she urgently resolved
To flee from all these cloudy days.

So, for her soul edification
And with the previous life at parting,
Ahead, in hope and expectation
She rushed off to the non-native town.

Where skyscrapers’rereflected in the puddles,
Where are mercantile selfish creeps,
Where girls are looking for a husband,
Without any love to feel.

Forgive me, oh, mysterious reader,
Forgot the most important thing,
It’s time to show her appearance,
Describe our lovely heroine.

She was a beauty, that’s for sure
And there’s no need in any words,
So tall, with hair to midshoulder,
So brave, with tongue just like a sword.

She did not like the others’ twitting
And treasured kindness in the folk
And name that destiny had given
To her, had clear meaning «Hope».

It seemed to Nadya there were plenty
Troubles to find a chosen one
But this impression was deceptive
(I’ll tell you how it had begun)

While in the capital, so heartless,
Because of job that couldn’t be found,
She, like a bird, so free and lovely
Was mixed with local party crowd.

Where serenity is reigning
And parties are until the dawn
At places, where for time-wasting,
They want to meet someone unknown.

In clubs for whole days she was drifting,
And, tried to find the sense in this.
As if her conscience woke from sleeping,
Searched for acquaintance without risk,

And with some profit. This occurred:
These idle days came to an end
She found the support, to be sure,
Due to her close and faithful friends.

A job she suddenly was offered
At Moscow company, one of all
Where they hired tag, rag and bobtail
Where chance for luck is quite a small.

Nadezhda wasn’t upset: she started
Working so hard all her days long
And soon she saved for a new apartment,
She entered into a certain loan.

It seemed like nothing else was lacking
With such success that she had reached:
The things went smoothly, coherently,
All was perform without a hitch.

And then one day in the park, just where
She walked her way in the moonlight
Feeling so fine, so bright and dared,
Our hero chanced to catch her sight.

With a friend he went on, laughing,
Approaching closely Nadya’s dream
And suddenly, a little frightened,
He saw his fortune in the gleams.

And time stood still. The moment lasted,
His could not turn away his eyes,
From her. Time was so small for realizing
Things that occurred as surprise.

She smiled at him, her smile was dazzling.
And, seeing him near on the path,
Just once again she in amazement
Turned to him, and he merged with crowd.

This moment was when two hearts’ beating
Was heard in spite of vanity,
To fall in love was meant this meeting
To overcome the calamity.

Yes, that’s of course was love at first sight,
About which the songs are sung
And even if it’s so demanded,
This gift is not for everyone.

But let’s get back at our hero:
With all the courage that he had,
Having seen such a girl so near,
He slowly followed all her steps.

And having pulled right from his pocket
The banknote, he shouted out loud:
«Wait, girl, here money you’ve dropped.
That I occasionally have found».

And Nadia, seeing that’s a joke
And thinking she could join the play.
Said: «Well, here’s the money I have dropped,
But where and how – I can’t tell…“

Their hearts were beating so insane.
They looked into each other’s face.
And even a friend then went away
And left them standing at that place.

They summer park was looking brightly,
So let her soul in evening time
Rest with the soul of him in silence,
When lasts this dream with all its charm.

Street lanterns were so brightly twinkling
Leaves whispered something to the wind,
And bird was marvelously singing
And love inspired everything.

So, they went on, and trees were dancing,
And passers-by, casting down their eyes,
Were so surprised, extremely jealous
About the destiny’s surprise.

All this didn’t matter. They didn’t care:
About someone’s glimpse or other things,
And Nadya suddenly remembered
That hadn’t known the name of him.