Organ grinder

Those sounds are whistling and singing
Ungainly-sad-awkward ...
Stand up before me, stand up
Behind the frame are two light heads.

Above them the glass surface
With a month, it is bright crystal.
One is so briskly cheerful
The other is so languidly sad.

And - an old song! - with longing
We tenderly cherish the past
And I'm sorry for both,
And I am sincerely glad to both.

Between them in the gap is visible
Still a young head, -
And he is all good, as one,
And all he is sad, like another.

He is betrayed forever alone
And we torment sadness with bait ...
Will you leave, gray-haired guy,
With your obsessive hurdy-gurdy? ..


(Afanasy Fet)