Afanasy Fet
Distinctive on earth of all things that exist...

Literary Translations/Imitations

1

Distinctive on earth of all things that exist
Is a slumbering maple, its canopied shade.
Distinctive on earth of all things that exist
Is the gleam in the eye of a child, pensive-grave.
Distinctive on earth of all things that exist
Is the fragrance of hat worn on head that’s most dear.
Distinctive on earth of all things that exist
Is a hair-parting, left-leaning, pure and austere.

2

Unique amidst mirth of the things on this earth
Is the shade-dappled maple of canopied trees.
Unique amidst mirth of the things on this earth
Is the lost-in-thought gleam of a child’s gaze at ease.
Unique amidst mirth of the things on this earth
Is the hat on the fragrance of dear head distressed.
Unique amidst mirth of the things on this earth
Is the pure of a hair-part askew, leaning left.

3

There’s only one thing in this world that is:
The dapple of slumbering maples in shade.
There’s only one thing in this world that is:
A radiant spark in a child’s brooding gaze.
There’s only one thing in the world that is:
The fragrance of cap on a dear head at rest.
There’s only one thing in the world that is:
A clean part in hair, just askew, leaning left.

4

The only thing in the world that is . . .
Is the maple of drowsing-in-canopy trees.
The only thing in the world that is . . .
Is the pensive of childlike eye-gleam in the breeze.
The only thing in the world that is . . .
Is the fragrant of scarf on dear head debonair.
The only thing in the world that is . . .
Is that pure slanting-left of the part in the hair.

Translated by U. R. Bowie