这首诗是献给安娜·阿列克谢耶夫娜·奥列尼娜(1808-1888)的。奥列尼娜生活在著名学者家中，受到文学艺术的熏陶，文化素质较高，同时又颇多魅力，相当活泼，惹人喜爱。奥列尼娜和普希金接触之后，她曾表白说：普希金是“当时她所见到的最有趣的人”，普希金对她也充满了情意。他们一起在沙龙见面，在郊外同游，在彼得堡夏园幽会。

1828年夏天，普希金很想和奥列尼娜结为夫妻，但却遭到了她的父亲的拒绝。普希金遭到拒绝后，很快就离开了彼得堡。后来，普希金与奥列尼娜一家关系大大疏远了，其中很重要的原因是她的父亲越来越靠近沙皇，而且这位要人对社会上流传的普希金的讽刺短诗极为不满。

First version:

I loved you

I loved you; and perhaps I love you still,

The flame, perhaps, is not extinguished; yet

It burns so quietly within my soul,

No longer should you feel distressed by it.

Silently and hopelessly I loved you,

At times too jealous and at times too shy.

God grant you find another who will love you

As tenderly and truthfully as I.

Second version :

I loved you

I loved you, and I probably still do,

And for a while the feeling may remain...

But let my love no longer trouble you,

I do not wish to cause you any pain.

I loved you; and the hopelessness I knew,

The jealousy, the shyness - though in vain -

Made up a love so tender and so true

As may God grant you to be loved again.