In the snow a rose is freezing,

Tender fragrance barely wheezing

Petals shrivel, slowly dying

On a frigid winter day.

Rose is used to sun’s caresses,

Summer’s glory, flowered dresses,

Blooming in the midst of garden

As a queen on glitzy ball.

Cut from bush, away from sisters,

As a present to someone,

Like a piece of trash she’s lying

In a snowdrift’s embrace.

Sun is no longer shining,

Turned away, the rose it’s shying

Like it never was caressing

Rose’s velvet skin before.

There seems to be no reason

For the bitter taste of treason,

Those who loved the rose in season

Turned their backs on it today.

Death is creeping up in darkness,

Its embrace will wrap in blackness

Dying petals that just lately

Were inspiring peoples’ awe.

Rose is weeping, end is near,

Wishes for the sun to hear

Its last wish to simply share

Tiny ray of fiery love.

Ray that brings alive the blossom

On the fragrant rosebush bosom,

Crowned by flowers and people,

Reigning on for evermore.

But its time has passed forever

Like a passing winter fever,

Like a bird that didn’t linger

On its way to warmer lands.

Passed the days of summer glory

When the heart was free of worry

And the Sun and Rose love story

Filled the air day and night.

Rose’s petals breathed desire,

Its aroma burned like fire

In the heart of slave or sire

Seeking shelter in its shade.

Gentle rain refreshed the flower,

Reinforced fragrance’s power,

Even mighty Wind would cower,

Careful not to ruin the bud.

Crimson petals, sanguine color

Radiating grace and valor

Burning with eternal power

In all lovers’ achy hearts.

In the snow a rose is dying,

Barely breathing, softly crying,

No longer death defying,

In a raging snowstorm.

Why is love a brief affair?

And in what way was it fair

Rose from rosebush to tear

If there wasn’t any love?

She was destined for heart that’s frozen

But used to love the gorgeous roses

And wanted to embrace them all

At Summer’s glitzy, snazzy ball.

To other hearts the heart is heartless

When it becomes aloof and loveless.

When love is gone, heart’s edifice

Is fast replaced with lifeless ice.

The rose dreams for realm of Spring,

Where bloom is wild and birds do sing

Where hearts are warm, where sweet love dwells

Where fairies roam and cast their spells.

Perched high on rosebush again

It would the flower kingdom reign.

There was a time when rose mused

That Sun would always it amuse,

But time went by, the crown fell

And tolls and tolls the mourning bell.

Pray, say, why toss a rose in snow?

To seek a better one for show?

The rose is weeping, tears freeze

That once were dew in summer breeze.

By Liana Margiva

Translated from Russian by Anatol Kardiukov