Не Привыкайте — Do Not Grow Used To

Words by: Margarita Kolomiytseva 
                (Маргарита Коломийцева)

English translation by: David Benning

Do not grow used to the beauty of woodlands,
To serenity of night, to the magic of a dawn,
To the velvety lavender richness of an espresso**,
And to the warmth of someone's casual words.

Do not grow used to books and rain,
To peals of thunder and winds so cold,
To your taking tea with amber-colored honey,
Or inhaling the smell of the morning sun.

Do not grow used to old cities,
To their houses nor their familiar streets,
To churches on estated manors, either humble or huge,
And to long conversations, heart-to-heart.

Breathe fully and deeply.  Life is not forever.
Appreciate every moment.
Remember!
And above all...
Do not grow used to love...
Do not grow used to loved ones ever!

** Line 3: Author's word: ристретто, ristretto.
     Ristretto is a short shot of espresso coffee made with half the water
     but the same amount of grounds.  Thus more concentrated.


The author's comments on the poem:

Недавно мне написала одна девушка и попросила разрешение снять клип на мои слова. Во время съемок у нее обнаружили опухоль и для нее стихотворение приобрело совсем иной, очень личный смысл.

Послушайте, что получилось.

Recently, a girl wrote to me and asked for permission to shoot a clip of my words. During the filming, she was diagnosed with a tumor and the poem acquired a very different, very personal meaning for her.

Listen to what happened.

To someone who missed the point of her poem, she wrote:

Ты совсем не понял основную мысль. Не привыкайте, значит не обесценивайте. Когда мы к чему-то привыкаем, мы перестаём это ценить.

You don't understand the basic idea at all. Don't get used to it, so don't devalue it. When we get used to something, we stop appreciating it.