Retellings. Juhan Liiv Flee from all deceit! Poem by INDREK KOFF

I've always
(and I truly mean—always)
tried to behave in a way that
all
(and I truly mean—all)
of my actions
match
my conscience and common
ethical convictions.
If at all possible.
I steer clear of deception.
If I can manage to.
Maybe a necessary white lie on rare occasion.
If it so happens that I do wrong,
or that an act turns out dishonorable,
then only by accident.
Or if on purpose, then
unwillingly—forced by circumstance.
And otherwise?
Well, I'm pretty handsome and smart.
More or less in shape.
I could read more… But where's the time?
I've got friends—and a lot of them.
I've got maybe half my life ahead of me
if things go quite nice,
and I still dare to look in the mirror.
No, I won't say anything,
you can relax,
everything's fine,
and I truly mean it—I mean it all.
Just more or less.

Juhan Liiv (1864-1913) is one of Estonia's most famous poets.