I was not here for hundreds years,
But nothing changed for ages here…
In the same way the divine lyre
Pours bliss from the eternal crests.
Same are the waters and stars’ throngs,
And endless bleakness of skies’ domes,
And flying seeds in airy flows,
And mothers sing the same sweet songs.
Forget all troublesome and cruel —
It’s safe — my dear Asian home…
I’ll come once more. Let fences blossom
And pools be clear ones and full.
Я не была здесь лет семьсот,
Но ничего не изменилось...
Всё так же льется Божья милость
С непререкаемых высот,
Всё те же хоры звезд и вод,
Всё так же своды неба черны,
И так же ветер носит зерна,
И ту же песню мать поет.
Он прочен, мой азийский дом,
И беспокоиться не надо...
Еще приду. Цвети, ограда,
Будь полон, чистый водоем.
«Two suns are cooling down, — God, I protest! — / One — in the sky, the other — in my chest. How these two suns — could my conscience forget? — / How these two suns were driving me mad! Both cooling now, — their rays won’t hurt your eyes! / The one that burned the hottest »
«The gypsy passion of parting! / Just met — and rushing to part! / I dropped my head in my hands and started / To think, staring into the dark: From our letters, no one could gather / Any insight to understand more / How disloyal we were, or rather, — / How true to ourselves we were.»
«No one was left at a loss!1 / I’m happy we’ve come to part. / I’m kissing you now — across / The gap of a thousand yards. We’re not equal — I understand. / I’m calm — for the first time. / A young Derzhavin,2 you can’t / Accept my undisciplined rhyme. I christen you...»
«Sending loved ones off on their way, / I sing songs for them to acquire, / For a memory’s sake, all that they, / Once, themselves, had gifted me prior. Down a green and shimmering lane, / To the crossroad, I walk my beloveds. / Wind, keep singing for them, do not wane, / And you, road...»