This is my translation of the poem "A Sad Joke" by Vladimir Lifshitz, russian writer who I admire. It was written in 1973. I don't know the correct literature term, but I tried to keep all the accents and the number of syllables.
Time will come and I will die
There’ll be me no longer
In the morn the sun will rise
There’ll be me no longer
There’ll be dark and there’ll be light
Summertime, wintertime
Cats and houses will survive
There’ll be me no longer
But I know the run of things
Is forever endless
And one day, I do believe
I return to this place
The same set of primal cells
In the same straight order
And the tender look would tell
Of things it told before then
Still in Moscow I would live
Meet the usual fellows
And the same ideas you see
In my head would bellow
And habitual sins I might
Be again committing
My verse for the second time
Might again be written
Nothing would my fate forget
Which it has recorded
I would be an I again…
There’ll be me no longer
Saturday, 4 June 2011
Little Black Paws
(this is a translation of a funny song by a russian band called NOM which was written way back in the 90's)
From over hills, and past the swamps
Past river’s stream, that slowly rolls
In the dim dusk with goals unknown
A youngish man was walking alone
He trod his way, direction was east
And leather sack he was carrying with
He was so tall and bald was his bean
Fussily gnawing on sunflower seeds
It seems last year in local woods
All evil spirits, they did beshrew
Old forester went for pine cones
Nobody saw him and neither his bones
Once upon winter in the same thick
Dersu the hunter fell into a pit
His body was found in seventy days
Lying on skulls disfigured and maimed!
The moon climbed up. The guy with the sack
Would have stalked on down the same track
Had he not met in the moonlight
A little girl not older than five
Stupidly sitting in the green moss
It was so clear, that lost she was
To keep the infant from getting dead
The man set his mind on helping instead
Right to her savior the little lass clings
Squishes with her nose and gobbles on seeds
Soon through the dark there shimmered some light
It meant they reached a settlement’s side
Together with granny the little girl dwells
They also have there a goat and hens
The man just got sleepy in tobacco smoke
The warmth of the house lulled the poor bloke
The night is so dark and it hardly moves
Way too much late now to rescue the dude
Rags starting to stir in the grim cellar
Little black paws have woken down there
Frightful and scary and gooey is dark!
Death himself coming for his big hunt
In knitted hat and old coat he goes
Little black paws! Ah little black paws!
New forester in the midst of a day
Afterwards saw the remains of that place
Girl and her granny, no sign of them both
Only the footprints! Little black paws…
From over hills, and past the swamps
Past river’s stream, that slowly rolls
In the dim dusk with goals unknown
A youngish man was walking alone
He trod his way, direction was east
And leather sack he was carrying with
He was so tall and bald was his bean
Fussily gnawing on sunflower seeds
It seems last year in local woods
All evil spirits, they did beshrew
Old forester went for pine cones
Nobody saw him and neither his bones
Once upon winter in the same thick
Dersu the hunter fell into a pit
His body was found in seventy days
Lying on skulls disfigured and maimed!
The moon climbed up. The guy with the sack
Would have stalked on down the same track
Had he not met in the moonlight
A little girl not older than five
Stupidly sitting in the green moss
It was so clear, that lost she was
To keep the infant from getting dead
The man set his mind on helping instead
Right to her savior the little lass clings
Squishes with her nose and gobbles on seeds
Soon through the dark there shimmered some light
It meant they reached a settlement’s side
Together with granny the little girl dwells
They also have there a goat and hens
The man just got sleepy in tobacco smoke
The warmth of the house lulled the poor bloke
The night is so dark and it hardly moves
Way too much late now to rescue the dude
Rags starting to stir in the grim cellar
Little black paws have woken down there
Frightful and scary and gooey is dark!
Death himself coming for his big hunt
In knitted hat and old coat he goes
Little black paws! Ah little black paws!
New forester in the midst of a day
Afterwards saw the remains of that place
Girl and her granny, no sign of them both
Only the footprints! Little black paws…
I Was Torn out of Life So Dreary
It's my first attempt at translating classic russian poetry. The original poem was written by Nikolai Gumilev in 1917.
I was torn out of life so dreary
Of life so scarce, and life so plain
By beauty torturing and daring
And inescapable again
And then I died and saw a fire
That I had never seen before
And hurtful for my blinded eye
A blue star shined in great galore
And morphing both spirit and body
A tune was climbing high to wane
That talk and tingle was, I got it,
Your blood’s lute-like descanting say
And smell was lurid and was sweeter
Than anything I’d ever find
Than even lily’s, which won’t wither
In garden heavenly divine
And suddenly from depths so shiny
The face of earth appeared again
And like a wounded bird, and stunning
You trembled in my frightened hand
You told me you were agonizing
But what then do I do so far
When finally I’m realizing
That you are nothing but blue star
I was torn out of life so dreary
Of life so scarce, and life so plain
By beauty torturing and daring
And inescapable again
And then I died and saw a fire
That I had never seen before
And hurtful for my blinded eye
A blue star shined in great galore
And morphing both spirit and body
A tune was climbing high to wane
That talk and tingle was, I got it,
Your blood’s lute-like descanting say
And smell was lurid and was sweeter
Than anything I’d ever find
Than even lily’s, which won’t wither
In garden heavenly divine
And suddenly from depths so shiny
The face of earth appeared again
And like a wounded bird, and stunning
You trembled in my frightened hand
You told me you were agonizing
But what then do I do so far
When finally I’m realizing
That you are nothing but blue star
In Front of You
how come you can’t see
everything has changed its shape
guess i am free
and you’re still here
and we have time but time is strange
and swallows dive
the sky so high
still I feel something is so wrong
i lie
to keep your fragile trust
and keep your dreamy smile
i tear me apart in front of you
but hope you never know I do
how come you can’t see
threadbare masks are crumbling down
guess i am still
and you’re free here
with people laughing all around
and moth flies low
the pressure falls
and storms are forming in the sky
i know
that I will neither love
nor ever let you go
everything has changed its shape
guess i am free
and you’re still here
and we have time but time is strange
and swallows dive
the sky so high
still I feel something is so wrong
i lie
to keep your fragile trust
and keep your dreamy smile
i tear me apart in front of you
but hope you never know I do
how come you can’t see
threadbare masks are crumbling down
guess i am still
and you’re free here
with people laughing all around
and moth flies low
the pressure falls
and storms are forming in the sky
i know
that I will neither love
nor ever let you go
Friday, 29 May 2009
the ruby dream
every morning boasts more blue sky
i’m overwhelmed by you
i cannot write
squeeze out but just some idiot happy lines
the way you throw your arms around my neck
and smile
the way you slip your dress down to the floor
and i
forget to breathe for quite a long while
week by week I’m sucking on a straw
we’re living somewhere
outside the world
with perfect moments and a perfect play
the way you look at me when
i look away
the way I lay my leg on you before
i wake
makes me wish it always stays the same
spring is meowing like a playful cat
or maybe only
we can notice that
tuned to the wave of ruby dream
the way you close your eyes when
you are kissing me
the way you sometimes cry when
you believe i sleep
makes me think i’ll never ever let you leave
i’m overwhelmed by you
i cannot write
squeeze out but just some idiot happy lines
the way you throw your arms around my neck
and smile
the way you slip your dress down to the floor
and i
forget to breathe for quite a long while
week by week I’m sucking on a straw
we’re living somewhere
outside the world
with perfect moments and a perfect play
the way you look at me when
i look away
the way I lay my leg on you before
i wake
makes me wish it always stays the same
spring is meowing like a playful cat
or maybe only
we can notice that
tuned to the wave of ruby dream
the way you close your eyes when
you are kissing me
the way you sometimes cry when
you believe i sleep
makes me think i’ll never ever let you leave
the feather boats
the feather boats dragged onto hostile shore
their rowers devoured their skins lie like mats on the floor
i watch from somewhere shaking with dull painful throes
the feather boats scattered like no one will sail them back home
but when the sky was still blue
and serene
the feather boats flew
the sea was deep green
and I was a boy
with beautiful eyes
my father was young
and my mother all smiles
yet I float like a snowflake and watch remnants sink into sand
my flaccid slow head sways this vision is going on end
it smells like stale perfume, i breathe in the sweet sticky scent
the feather boats vanish, the last little copper coin spent
the mouth of the trap opened wide
and inviting
it was a mysterious ride
so exciting
every next morning
the sky was brand new
when did it change
oh i never knew
now i’m crushed like a bug the glassy sky lies on the ground
the funny bells ring the same pattern round and round
the feather boats lost, i think they will never be found
in the end of the dream it turned into pus pouring out
the sick thrill invades through my breath
i’m so tired
i don’t want to finish myself
in this pyre
but i’m a stranger
to all I believe
when all i despise
is the inside of me
set sail
and take me away
set sail
i can’t stand this strain
set sail
and stop it stop it going on
set sail
please take me back home
their rowers devoured their skins lie like mats on the floor
i watch from somewhere shaking with dull painful throes
the feather boats scattered like no one will sail them back home
but when the sky was still blue
and serene
the feather boats flew
the sea was deep green
and I was a boy
with beautiful eyes
my father was young
and my mother all smiles
yet I float like a snowflake and watch remnants sink into sand
my flaccid slow head sways this vision is going on end
it smells like stale perfume, i breathe in the sweet sticky scent
the feather boats vanish, the last little copper coin spent
the mouth of the trap opened wide
and inviting
it was a mysterious ride
so exciting
every next morning
the sky was brand new
when did it change
oh i never knew
now i’m crushed like a bug the glassy sky lies on the ground
the funny bells ring the same pattern round and round
the feather boats lost, i think they will never be found
in the end of the dream it turned into pus pouring out
the sick thrill invades through my breath
i’m so tired
i don’t want to finish myself
in this pyre
but i’m a stranger
to all I believe
when all i despise
is the inside of me
set sail
and take me away
set sail
i can’t stand this strain
set sail
and stop it stop it going on
set sail
please take me back home
Friday, 30 January 2009
munch's nightmare
(munch = edvard munch, a great norwegian artist)
he asks me about something
but i can’t hear
i hate him like he’s gay
or a pedophile
i scream him to fuck off
my fist landing in his face
snot of blood on his nose
it swells it fucking sways
he falls flat on his back
coughing out his chewing gum
i’m crushing walls enraged
rock like bloody pendulum
my knuckles splashing red
and axons yell with pain
i’m gasping for some air
my chest can’t move like chained
he now sits and stares
the shapes around are still
static Munch’s nightmare
some delirious thrill
my half blind effort makes it
i slam the fucking door
then I break down and wail
like hundreds times before
get away
get her away from me
can't stand the fucking face
throw her away from here
get her out of this fucking place
she fucks my life out
a splinter in my eyes
i hate that stupid pout
however hard she tries
my head feels like mud
i'm sick and tired of hate
throw her out for a start
i'll watch her fuck away
i'm going to explode
if she ever comes again
she's such a fucking load
she's driving me insane
can't stand the fucking face
throw her away from here
get her out of this fucking place
she fucks my life out
a splinter in my eyes
i hate that stupid pout
however hard she tries
my head feels like mud
i'm sick and tired of hate
throw her out for a start
i'll watch her fuck away
i'm going to explode
if she ever comes again
she's such a fucking load
she's driving me insane
Saturday, 24 January 2009
my hope
when i was young i dreamt of place
that would belong to me
i dreamt of land with no map
a place of mystery
when i grew up the world was mapped
and miracles were rare
my land had sunk i lost my hope
to find it anywhere
but now that hope is revived
my life can start anew
you look like you can be the one
i put my trust in you
and if you change the whole world
replace its weary face
you’ll take me out of the dark
you’ll fish me out of space
we’ll cross the desert and the sea
to where my memories
will never die and never fade
but always stay with me
and yes i know we’ll find the land
new to the smallest grain
and then i shall give up my fear
and shall forgive my pain
that would belong to me
i dreamt of land with no map
a place of mystery
when i grew up the world was mapped
and miracles were rare
my land had sunk i lost my hope
to find it anywhere
but now that hope is revived
my life can start anew
you look like you can be the one
i put my trust in you
and if you change the whole world
replace its weary face
you’ll take me out of the dark
you’ll fish me out of space
we’ll cross the desert and the sea
to where my memories
will never die and never fade
but always stay with me
and yes i know we’ll find the land
new to the smallest grain
and then i shall give up my fear
and shall forgive my pain
the walk
it’s a sunny and warm-for-a-winter day
let’s walk a few miles, shake off your fat you say
it’s minus five
it’s perfect
the sun shines from the crystal sky
i’m overcome with joy
i almost fly
my bucket starts and we drive out of town
some fifteen miles and now the rocks are around
the car is parked
we’re going
the willows boast titmouse parade
my heart feels big
like it’s a date
and yeah i sing those cute and sexy lines
that everybody wants to be a cat sometimes
the cat though
stayed at home
i’m sipping on the heady air
i’ll kiss you and
who cares if people stare
i’m not yet tired, the road starts to climb
you fed your favorite nuthatch and you smile
i joke about
your red nose
you push me oh the snowdrift’s deep
i flounder laughing and
i can’t find grip
so we’ve come to the top and are flown in the wind
pines sing their hymns and “Old Man” looks so grim
oh this gets
really cold here
we drink tea from the thermos flask
we must go back
and it’s no easy task
i always knew that it would be like this
your sparkling eyes and heaven spread under trees
we’re silent
on the drive home
impressions have to settle first
my heart’s still big
i almost burst
funny walk through reserve wood
fat is burnt and i feel good
my stamina is renewed
now let’s go to bed, i know we should!!!
let’s walk a few miles, shake off your fat you say
it’s minus five
it’s perfect
the sun shines from the crystal sky
i’m overcome with joy
i almost fly
my bucket starts and we drive out of town
some fifteen miles and now the rocks are around
the car is parked
we’re going
the willows boast titmouse parade
my heart feels big
like it’s a date
and yeah i sing those cute and sexy lines
that everybody wants to be a cat sometimes
the cat though
stayed at home
i’m sipping on the heady air
i’ll kiss you and
who cares if people stare
i’m not yet tired, the road starts to climb
you fed your favorite nuthatch and you smile
i joke about
your red nose
you push me oh the snowdrift’s deep
i flounder laughing and
i can’t find grip
so we’ve come to the top and are flown in the wind
pines sing their hymns and “Old Man” looks so grim
oh this gets
really cold here
we drink tea from the thermos flask
we must go back
and it’s no easy task
i always knew that it would be like this
your sparkling eyes and heaven spread under trees
we’re silent
on the drive home
impressions have to settle first
my heart’s still big
i almost burst
funny walk through reserve wood
fat is burnt and i feel good
my stamina is renewed
now let’s go to bed, i know we should!!!
Saturday, 17 January 2009
rivers
a stick in my eye
my sleep is broken up
i spilt my blood over my bed
but strangely it wasn't red
rivers from my eyes shed black
rivers from my eyes
pain in my head
needle in my back
rain in my bed
and screamed and screamed and screamed and screamed and slept
again
my sleep is broken up
i spilt my blood over my bed
but strangely it wasn't red
rivers from my eyes shed black
rivers from my eyes
pain in my head
needle in my back
rain in my bed
and screamed and screamed and screamed and screamed and slept
again
slavery
when i walk i feel like exposed
for the horde of filthy goats
feel like a slave examined by a lewd
and disgusting eager brute
i know they stare at my trot
a slave probably worth being bought
a body ready to be used
designed for anything you choose
and i scream
yell them go from me
but they gather round me
getting firmer hold on me
i hate the slavery
oh how i hate this dismal place
salivary mouths pressed against my face
fat hands stroking and pinching my flesh
and greed and sweat dripping on my head
fascinated with my walk
they stare at me block after block
and i writhe with useless wrath
they want to have me or kill me or both
and i scream in the street
yell them go from me
but they strangle me
getting firmer hold on me
i hate the slavery
for the horde of filthy goats
feel like a slave examined by a lewd
and disgusting eager brute
i know they stare at my trot
a slave probably worth being bought
a body ready to be used
designed for anything you choose
and i scream
yell them go from me
but they gather round me
getting firmer hold on me
i hate the slavery
oh how i hate this dismal place
salivary mouths pressed against my face
fat hands stroking and pinching my flesh
and greed and sweat dripping on my head
fascinated with my walk
they stare at me block after block
and i writhe with useless wrath
they want to have me or kill me or both
and i scream in the street
yell them go from me
but they strangle me
getting firmer hold on me
i hate the slavery
Wednesday, 7 January 2009
a new type
a flash across my wandering eye
a red-haired splinter in my mind
i honestly tried
to drive my eyes away
you didn't want it and i failed
it's so hard to classify
you always get to change my mind
maybe i will have to find
a blank page in my book of types
or throw it away
a flash across your wandering eye
a black-haired splinter in your mind
you honestly tried
to force your eyes away
i prayed you didn't and you failed
it's so hard to classify
the way we feel the way we smile
maybe i will have to find
a blank page in my book of types
or throw it away
a red-haired splinter in my mind
i honestly tried
to drive my eyes away
you didn't want it and i failed
it's so hard to classify
you always get to change my mind
maybe i will have to find
a blank page in my book of types
or throw it away
a flash across your wandering eye
a black-haired splinter in your mind
you honestly tried
to force your eyes away
i prayed you didn't and you failed
it's so hard to classify
the way we feel the way we smile
maybe i will have to find
a blank page in my book of types
or throw it away
count to three
i was standing on a cliff
looking down frightened ill
i was standing on a cliff
and my heart was frozen still
then a sparrow flew to me
he was just a tiny chum
and he said: first count to three
then jump
looking down frightened ill
i was standing on a cliff
and my heart was frozen still
then a sparrow flew to me
he was just a tiny chum
and he said: first count to three
then jump
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