A poet can’t be in disfavour,
he needs no awards, no fame.
A star has no setting whatever,
no black nor a golden frame.
A star can’t be killed with a stone, or
award, or that kind of stuff.
He’ll bear the blow of a fawner
lamenting he’s not big enough.
What matters is music and fervour,
not fame, nor abuse, anyway.
World powers are out of favour
when poets turn them away.
© Copyright Alec Vagapov’s translation
***
Andrei Voznesensky (Voznesenski, Voznesenskii, Voznesenskï, Wosnesenski, Woznesenski)
Andrei Voznesensky, Voznesenskii (1933-2010) was a Soviet and Russian poet, writer, playwright and songwriter. Voznesensky is known for his experimental forms and language, and his works often touch on philosophical and social themes. He also wrote songs for musicians and performed them himself. He was a laureate of the USSR State Prize (1978).