Mher Chatinyan
“Friends,” 2019

Jim, give me your paw for luck—
I’ve never seen a paw like yours.
Come, let’s bark at the moon together
In weather still and quiet.
Jim, give me your paw for luck.

Please, old friend, don’t lick me.
Try to understand one simple thing:
You don’t know what life is,
Or why it’s worth living in this world.

Your master is kind and famous,
And many guests come to his home.
Each one, smiling, reaches out
To stroke your velvet coat.

You’re devilishly handsome for a dog,
With such a gentle, trusting face.
You ask no one’s permission—
Like a tipsy friend, you’re up for kisses.

Dear Jim, among your many guests,
There have been all sorts.
But did the quietest, saddest one
Happen to stop by here?

She’ll come, I promise you.
And when you gaze into her eyes,
Without me there, gently lick her hand for me—
For all I was, and wasn’t, to blame for.

Sergei Yesenin, “To Kachalov’s Dog”

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