David Samoylov
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David Samoilov on the cover of his memoir book Sifting through the dates of our life
David Samoylov (Russian: Давид Самойлов), pseudonym of David Samuilovich Kaufman (Russian: Давид Самуилович Кауфман; 1 June 1920 in Moscow — 23 February 1990 in Tallinn). He is a notable poet of War generation of Russian poets, and considered one of the most important Russian poets of the post-World War II era.
[edit] Vers libre
I grew up in accordance
with time.
In my childhood I was a child.
In my youth a youth.
In adulthood an adult.
Thus, during the thirties
I loved the thirties,
And in the forties
I loved the forties.
And when according to the
law of nature
the time started to denote
a descent from the hill,
I didn't begin to hate it,
but to understand.
In the sixties
I understood the sixties.
And now I understand
all that happens,
and what shall happen
as a result of what is happening.
And I know what will happen
to me,
when there comes a time that would belong to someone else.
And I have no fear.
David Samoylov (ca. 1990)
Translated by Roman Turovsky (ca.2003)
