To Dawe, Esq

Why would your sublime pencil draw
The features of my negroid face?
Though meant for future eyes, the devil
Has advocates for its disgrace.

Draw Miss Olenina instead.
When inspiration flames the heart,
Nothing but youth and beauty ever
Should summon genius to art.

Translated by A. Z. Foreman

A.S. Pushkin. To Dawe, Esq (“Why would your sublime pencil draw...”). Translated by A. Z. Foreman // Alexander Pushkin. Collected Works: Parallel Russian Text and English Translation.
© Электронная публикация — РВБ, 2022—2024. Версия 2.1 от 30 ноября 2023 г.