Once, I saw an old couple…

At that time, my head was full of impressions of reading of one famous work,

which was a beautifully designed book “The Songs of Songs of Solomon”,

published in three languages: Belarusan, Russian and English.

I found it in the library where I was working.

I was surprised. I had never read it carefully, and allured by wish to compare the verses I seized just upon them.

A fine, beautiful work – I enjoyed it. Sometimes childish-naive, still nice and cute.

Something irritated me slightly, though. I wasn’t aware of it entirely...

Well. It filled my thoughts and feelings at that time anyway.

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And then I saw the old couple.

He was wearing black glasses and holding a walking stick. She was leading him

and controlling his steps. He was holding gently her hand and seemed more

attentive to her than she did to him…

I was looking at them… The lines of “The Songs…” were getting mixed up in

my head… and then I understood what had irritated me about them.

One phrase was born in my mind and, later, it became

                                                                                    the first line

                                                                                                     of …

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I would love you, even if I were blind.

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I need no eyes to see how beautiful and tender your soul is.

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I would hear the voice of your heart, even if I were deaf.

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I will understand in any language how intelligent and fine your mind is.

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I could be mute – you understand me, even when I am silent.

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So close our souls are.

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I would find you, even if you lived on other worlds.

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How did it happen that I found myself here, where you live?

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Is it a smile of stars? – or inevitability?

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So bonded our souls are. Why?..

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What’s the matter with our bodies? – Only that they are matter.

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We are given them on this world as a gift

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for displaying our tenderness.

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I know, one day, I will die away in your arms…

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And on that world where there is no space and time,

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                              where there are no earthly conventions and bonds,

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                                                                                       we will meet again.

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Where our blended thoughts will sound so agreeable and free.

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And I’m gazing at your eyes as at the gate to eternity…