De profundis... My generation
Had been fed without honey. Aft that
Just a wind sings in gloomy recession,
And remembrance of them who is dead.
Our business have never been finished,
Our time had been marked by the end;
‘Till the watershed of our wishing,
‘Till the spring’s top, that might be so grand,
‘Till the blooming with fiery passion —
There was distance in only one breath...
By two wars, my generation,
Had been lighted your awful path.
De profundis... Моё поколенье
Мало мёду вкусило. И вот
Только ветер гудит в отдаленьи,
Только память о мёртвых поёт.
Наше было не кончено дело,
Наши были часы сочтены,
До желанного водораздела,
До вершины великой весны,
До неистового цветенья
Оставалось лишь раз вздохнуть...
Две войны, моё поколенье,
Освещали твой страшный путь.
«Extinguished gaiety of years, which sunk in madness, / Presses on me like a hangover restless. / But in my soul, foregoing pine / Becomes through time still stronger, like a wine. / My way is sad. Predicts me toile and woe – / The sea of future in a wrath and row. But, oh, my friends, I...»
«His eyes are like faded burdock. / He clasps the coins in his hands. / He was a glorious shepherd, / Now he sings of times past. / And in the corner, an old woman / Sheds tears in front of an icon. / She used to be his beloved, / His drunk nectar in a green meadow. / Dry dust coats t...»
«For A. Sakharov / / The storm has passed. Few of us survived. / Many are missing from friendship’s roll call. / I’ve returned to the orphaned region / I haven’t seen in eight years. / / Who should I call to? With whom should I share / The sad joy that I’m still alive? / ...»
«You remember, / Of course you remember it all. / You remember / How I stood by the wall, / How you walked nervously around the room / Throwing sharp words / In my face. / / You said / It was time to part ways, / That you had had enough / Of my manic life, / That it was time ...»