Hops

Beneath the willow wound round with ivywe take cover from the worstof the storm, with a greatcoat roundour shoulders and my hands around your waist.

I've got it wrong.

That isn't ivyentwined in the bushes roundthe wood, but hops.

You intoxicate me!

Let's spread the greatcoat on the ground.                                             translated from the Russian by                                             Jon Stallworthy and Peter France   a further translation by A S Kline:

Khmel (Hops, and Intoxication)Under the willow, wound with ivy,we shelter from the storm.

A greatcoat covers our shoulders,my arms, to keep you warm.

I’m wrong.

The trees in this woodare circled with hops not ivy.

Better to spread the coaton the ground, here, beneath me.