Peegli ees

Kes meeldida tahab, peab roomama,
'jah' üteldes 'ei' peab mõtlema,
Mis teine tahab, peab tegema,
Peab ahelaid kandma ja - tänama!

Peab kandma lõpmata palju veel,
Peab tundma, kuidas tal murdub meel,
Peab kummardama kulla eel -
Peab nuttes naeratama veel.

Ja kes ei taha, ei meelita ta,
Ei taha, ei taha, ei tahagi ta!
Vaid külmalt elugi pakub ka -
Tal enesel katsutaks' meeldida!

Ja jääb ta nüüdki veel muutmata,
Ta tõe-armastus puut'mata,
Üks peab nüüd kahest sündima:
Ta peab nüüd tõusma ehk langema!

[in front of the mirror (juhan liiv)]

Who wants to be liked must crawl,
Must think 'no' while saying 'yes',
Must bide the will of others,
Wear shackles and render thanks,

Must bear so much more,
Feel their will break,
Must bow before gold
And smile while weeping, too.

And those who don't won't flatter,
Don't want to, they wont and they won't,
While coldly even life offers an option
That they themselves be liked.

And still they remain unchanged,
And the love of truth remains pristine
And one or the other must happen now '
They must either stand or fall.