Old man

*Pavlo Gulevatyi*

***

She walked along the market square
And stopped beside the flower stall.
Upon her legs, the golden pollen glowed,
And at her hip, carnations swayed.
I do not know if she was the fairest girl
Or not—but her blue eyes were wondrous!
And if you are lucky, on a fair and sunny day,
To lose a red carnation in the sea,
You will understand me.

***

The old man was warmed
by thought of the boy,
         and the boy
by thought of the old man.

The sea will not clothe
         or feed anyone
if people will not be warmed
by thoughts of one another.

And although the big fish
always goes to the sharks,
     devotion is more enviable
than possession.

Smart guy, you call her blind? —
then go and try to discern:
which of them is the boy?
      which is the old man?
which is the sea?

And you will see
              how rich one
can be who, even in sleep,
               bathes a trusting,
          little five-fingered
      crucian carp
in his palm.

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