The hills of Georgia are covered by the night;
Ahead Aragva runs through stone,
My feeling's sad and light; my sorrow is bright;
My sorrow is full of you alone,

Of you, of only you... My everlasting gloom
Meets neither troubles nor resistance.
Again inflames and loves my poor heart, for whom 
Without love, 'tis no existence. 

© Copyright, 1996
Translated by Yevgeny Bonver, August 1995,
Edited by Dmitry Karshtedt, June 1996.

I loved you: and, it may be, from my soul
The former love has never gone away,
But let it not recall to you my dole;
I wish not sadden you in any way. 

I loved you silently, without hope, fully,
In diffidence, in jealousy, in pain;
I loved you so tenderly and truly, 
As let you else be loved by any man. 
  

© Copyright, 1996
Translated by Yevgeny Bonver, August 1995,
Edited by Dmitry Karshtedt, July 1996.

Sing not, fair lady, when with me
Sad songs of Georgia any more:
They're bringing to my memory
Another life, a far-off shore.

Your beautiful, your cruel tune
Brings to my memory, alas,
The steppe, the night -- and with the moon
Lines of a far, unhappy lass.

Forgetting at the sight of you
The shadow fateful, shadow dear,
I hear you singing -- and anew
Imagine it before me here.

Sing not, fair lady, when with me
Sad songs of Georgia any more:
They're bringing to my memory
Another life, a far-off shore.


(Translated by Genia Gurarie, November 29, 1995