To the Portrait of a Lady

1

Not to touch you is heartless,

Fate has parted us by centuries,

Having passed to bright, scarlet flowers

The ardor of passions, eternally stirring.

Gazes are directed at your bouquet,

A hand in a glove holds it.

The life of sultry flora is very light,

The attire of the petals is admired.

You would have touched me with your lips,

Were I a phenomenal flower.

My feelings smolder under lock and key.

Hundreds of years have lain between us.

2

I cannot confess to friends and colleagues,

I have fallen in love with a portrait on the wall.

You are beautiful on the old canvas,

But we will not have a night together.

Perversion, no romance in sight —

My flesh rises up against you.

To overcome the jealous rebellion of the body,

The neighbor prostitute helps.

Despite being busy at night,

She helps with solving the problem.

Not rising from her knees for long,

She tears my anguish to shreds.

The years stretch out intricately,

Your gaze is still haughty,

But I read clear reproach in it.

As if I am mired in an abyss of depravity.

Dear, lovely peri,

My heart is given completely to you,

The nightly drunken revelry

Does not touch my feelings in the least.

I am on love's guard for life,

My soul and dreams are entrusted to you,

The flowers blaze invitingly…

Let the body wither in debauchery!