A Delightful Garden of Friendship

Modest Russian flowers Are blossoming on my balcony In the summer: Geraniums, camomiles, small roses, Carnations, nasturtiums and a decorative string bean. It is my tiny garden Under the roof of the twelfth floor of the house. But the sun Every morning welcomes us, And the charming fluffy bumblebees visit each flower. We have no summer residence Or our own garden on the earth. Therefore a balcony Is our favourite place. Somewhere far away, on the other side of this planet my friends live in their countries. I never met them in person, But I see their faces and characters, I hear their thoughts and fine poetry, I feel joy and pain of their souls. I love my familiar unfamiliar friends And I miss them. But soon they will send me Seeds of their own gardens and of their own home flowers. How wonderful it will be – to have boxes or pots with flowers from each of them! I shall look at their flowers, To think about my far friends and to pray this summer on the twelfth floor, on my balcony In a delightful Garden of Friendship.