Anna Akhmatova. Evening. Translated by Lenore Mayhew

Anna Akhmatova
Evening

In the garden there were snatches of music
Wordless, melancholy.
The sharp fresh odors of the sea
Rose from oysters on cracked ice.

He said to me,
«I am faithful friend»,
And touched my dress:
Unlike an embrace
The touch of that hand.

So one pets a cat or a bird
So one looks
at well-built circus riders.
And in his tranquil eyes there was laughter
Under lashes of light gold.

And behind the drifting smoke
The voices of nostalgic violins sang
«Give thanks, thanks to the Gods —
For the first time
You are alone
with your love.»

Translated by Lenore Mayhew

Анна Ахматова
Вечером

Звенела музыка в саду
Таким невыразимым горем.
Свежо и остро пахли морем
На блюде устрицы во льду.

Он мне сказал: «Я верный друг!»
И моего коснулся платья.
Так не похожи на объятья
Прикосновенья этих рук.

Так гладят кошек или птиц,
Так на наездниц смотрят стройных...
Лишь смех в глазах его спокойных
Под легким золотом ресниц.

А скорбных скрипок голоса
Поют за стелющимся дымом:
«Благослови же небеса —
Ты в первый раз одна с любимым».

1913

Evening, by A. S. Kline
In the garden strains of music, / Full of inexpressible sadness. / Scent of the sea, pungent, fresh, / On an ice bed, a di...
Evening, by Irina Zheleznova
Grief inexpressible was in / The strings’ untiring twang and chatter. / Fresh oysters, waiting on a platter, / Smelled p...
In the Evening, by Richard McKane
There was such inexpressible sorrow / in the music in the garden. / The dish of oysters on ice / smelt fresh and sharp of ...
In The Evening, by Abigail Rappoport
The music clamoured in the garden / With such inexpressible sorrow. / Freshly and sharply with the scent of sea / Smelled ...
In the Evening, by Judith Hemschemeyer
The music rang out in the garden / With such inexpressible grief. / Oysters in ice on the plate / Smelled fresh and sharp,...
In the evening, by Daniel Weissbort
Outside, the music is steeped / In such ineffable sadness. / The ice-packed oysters on the dish / Have the sharp, fresh ta...
In the evening, by Andrey Kneller
With sadness words cannot describe, / Out in the garden, music played. / The frozen oysters on the plate / Smelled pungent...
In the Evening, by Rupert Moreton
In garden rang out music’s sound, / Untellable its grieving motion. / The fresh astringent waft of ocean / On icy plate ...
In the Evening, by Yevgeny Bonver
The garden's music ranged to me / With dole that's beyond expression. / The frozen oysters smelled with freshness / And sh...
In the Evening, by Adrienne Rich
On the terrace, violins played / the most heartbreaking songs. / A sharp, fresh smell of the sea / came from oysters on a ...

Anna AkhmatovaEvening

Translated by Lenore Mayhew

Анна АхматоваВечером

Anna Akhmatova
Evening

Анна Ахматова
Вечером