The Advice to a Young Man

Åëåíà Ñëåïóøêèíà
When something is terribly wrong
You can’t sleep, though it’s 12 p.m. sharp
You are thinking: “My dear, be strong!”
But you just can’t imagine what’s up.
Time is slipping away… Never mind!
You are tired, you want to be quiet.
You keep asking yourself
If you’re going to Hell…
Don’t give up, you should fight,
You should fight!
Dear friend! You should know:
I am
Not a poet, I’m just trying to write
Please, believe me: this life isn’t Hell
Everything’s gonna be just all right.
Come on now, stop thinking like that!
You’ll survive, dear, I promise you that
Come on, fight, don’t give up all your life,
I am sure that you will survive!

28.10.2002