Wait for me and I'll come back, But wait with might and main, Wait throughout the gloom and rack Of autumn's yellow rain.
Wait when snowstorms fill the way, Wait in summer's heat,
Wait when, false to yesterday, Others do not wait.
Wait when all the others cease To wait, who waited too.
Wait from me and I'll come back.
Do not lightly let Those who know so well the knack Teach you to forget.
Let my mother and my son Believe that I have died;
Let my friends, their waiting done, At
the fireside, Lift the wine of grief and clink To my departed soul.
Wait, and make no haste to drink Alone amongst them all.
Wait for me and I'll come back, Defying death.
When he Who could not wait shall call it luck Only, let it be.
They cannot know, who did not wait, How in the midst of fire
Your waiting saved me from my fate.
Your waiting and desire. Why I still am living, we Shall know, just I and you:
You knew how to wait for me As no other knew.
Wait for me, and I will return. Only truly wait.
Wait while bringing sorrow The autumn rains come late.
Wait while snow is blowing, Wait while heat burns haze,
Wait while others cease to wait, Forgetting yesterdays.
Wait when letters cease to come From places far away, Wait,
while others tire of waiting Together day after day.
Wait for me, and I will return. Wish no good to those you've met
Who tell you, without thinking, That it is time to forget.
Let my son and mother believe That I have met my doom,
Let my friends all quit their hopes, In the fire-lit gloom
Let them drink their bitter wine, In memoriam... Wait.
Oh, do not hasten To sit and drink with them. Wait for me, and
I will return, Despite all death can do.
Let those who didn't wait for me Say "Just lucky he came through."
Those who didn't wait can't know How, while battle blazed, Just by
waiting for your own Me you truly saved.
We will know how I survived Only just us two:
Simply, you knew how to wait As no one else could do.
Konstantin Simonov
