Poems...

Konstantin Simonov • “Military Literature” • Poetry of War Wait for me, and I will return. Just wait very much, Wait until sadness sets in With the yellow rains, Wait until the snowstorms rage, Wait until the heat, Wait until others are no longer waited for, Having forgotten yesterday. Wait until letters no longer come From distant places, Wait until everyone who is waiting together Gets tired of waiting. Wait for me, and I will return, Do not wish well To those who know by heart That it is time to forget. Let the son and mother believe That I am no more, Let friends get tired of waiting, Sit by the fire, Drink bitter wine In memory of my soul... Wait. And do not rush To drink with them. Wait for me, and I will return, In spite of all deaths. Let those who did not wait for me say: “He was lucky.” They will not understand, those who did not wait, How, in the midst of the fire, With your waiting, You saved me. How I survived, only we will know, Just you and I, You simply knew how to wait, Like no one else. Published: Russian Poets. Anthology in four volumes. Moscow, “Children’s Literature,” 1968 And this is the best thing I have read in poetry