Every Man Chooses for Himself

Yury Levitansky, this next poem's author, enjoys little recognition in English - indeed, I know of no major translations - and Google searches have not yielded many either. And yet they contain a particular outlook on life which can be traced across many of his poems, one which I greatly admire. I plan to translate more of his work. 

The original text, given below my own translation, may be found at the following link - together with several of the poet's other pieces, all in the original Russian. 

http://yro.narod.ru/pressa/21/stixi.htm

The poem exists as a song as well, in multiple versions. It is Sergey Nikitin who sings my favorite one: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ygkr-Iw6Mb8

And so: 

Every Man Chooses for Himself

by Yury Levitansky

Every man chooses for himself 

His woman, his path, and his religion,

The god to which he pledges his allegiance - 

Every man chooses for himself.

Every man chooses on his own

Words to say in prayer, and in passion,

His weapons. in defense and in aggression -

Every man chooses on his own.

Every man elects what suits him best - 

Shield and armor, or tatters and privations - 

The measure of his final expiation -

Every man elects what suits him best.

Every man chooses for himself,

And I choose also, one way, or another -

Making no reproach to any other - 

Every man chooses for himself. 

Каждый выбирает для себя

Юрий Левитанский

Каждый выбирает для себя

Женщину, религию, дорогу.

Дьяволу служить или пророку -

Каждый выбирает для себя.

Каждый выбирает по себе

Слово для любви и для молитвы.

Шпагу для дуэли, меч для битвы

Каждый выбирает по себе.

Каждый выбирает по себе

Щит и латы, посох и заплаты.

Меру окончательной расплаты

Каждый выбирает по себе.

Каждый выбирает для себя.

Выбираю тоже - как умею.

Ни к кому претензий не имею.

Каждый выбирает для себя.