Don’t look into my eyes, we haven’t met before.

Perhaps, you found the one you have been looking for?

The one you sought when on a quiet night

You counted stars and basked in their light.

Don’t look into my eyes, you’ll catch no more

In my extinguished gaze, the passion of before.

Don’t look into my eyes, have mercy on your heart

I am, indeed, the one who with your dreams won’t part,

The one you wished to hold in your embrace forever,

Who’s hand you wouldn’t let out of yours, no, never

When on the sand together by the ocean

We sat while seagulls sang the piercing songs of passion.

The one who’s arm you stroked as if you touched a rose…

But wind would stir a storm and rose petals scattered

Across the Universe and you set off to roam,

The distant fields in search of tender petals.

But petals withered many years ago, recalling days

When beauty ruled the World and opened every door.

Life shorter was than poor petals pondered.

Don’t look into my eyes, wipe off your tears

Don’t wait for me to cry, I have no tears left,

They dried long time ago,

Evaporated many years before you found me.

Don’t look for answer to the question why

You failed to fall in love with lonesome me,

Why never picked me out of the crowd

And don’t you dare say that love, like life

Has drifted off into the distant past.

Now look into my eyes, it’s time,

To take my hand like in your distant dream

When roses were in bloom, untouched by storm

And no need for you to gather petals…

Now look into my eyes and you will see

The one who waited on the beach alone

For ocean ship that carried you to me

When Spring was decorating trees with bloom.

The waves were running towards me and I

Thought that they carried news of bliss to come,

They bathed my feet with foam and caressed me,

Embraced me tenderly, but you they couldn’t replace.

But waves receded, ran away for deep

And beckoned me to join them in the ocean,

The mirage blurred, the ocean ship dissolved

With you, my only dream, your only passion.

Now look into my eyes, it’s truly me,

For whom the birds would sing in lonely nights

While you were searching for the only path

That would one day lead you to my abode.

It’s me who Summer Sun forever failed to warm

While you were walking long and winding path.

It’s me who’s Autumn came while I awaited Spring.

Don’t look into my eyes, you are the pain

Of my tormented soul, you are the only healer

Who wished for patient’s wounds to never close.

By Liana Margiva

Translated from Russian by Anatol Kardiukov