And the next time, a deaf-mute —
I will come to a world where I give a poem to everyone, give everyone my hearing.
Indeed it’s all the same — what they say — I don’t understand.
Indeed it’s all the same — who can make it out? — what I say.
Forbid me God — again Corinna
arrives in this region, where people are harder than ice, ice floes harder than cliffs.
Like a deaf-mute — with such a long
braid—down to the floor! — so long
you wouldn’t recognize her.
А следующий раз — глухонемая
Приду на свет, где всем свой стих дарю, свой слух дарю.
Ведь всё равно — что говорят - не понимаю.
Ведь всё равно — кто разберёт? - что говорю.
Бог упаси меня — опять Коринной
В сей край придти, где люди твёрже льдов,
а льдины — скал.
Глухонемою — и с такою длинной —
— Вот — до полу — косой, чтоб не узнал!
«I love, Marina, that you were, like all, / that you – like me – I am, my larynx frozen, / not saying: You – like light! like evenfall! – / but as if choked on ice, my struggling bosom / is trying to exhale: You were, like all, / taught music lessons. (Oh, absurd of schooling! / ...»
«I heard a voice. It bade consolement. / “Come hither,” was its tempting call, / “Leave your obscure and sinful homeland, / Abandon Russia once for all. / I'll clean your hands of bloody imprints, / Relieve your heart of burning shame, / The anguish of defeats and insults / I'll c...»
«My honied languor comes of silence and of dreams / And boredom long-drawn-out and songs that gauchely yearn; / The cocks embroidered on white towels give me joy, / I like the soot that clings to icons old and stern. To the hot buzz of flies day after day goes by, / And a meek piety on ea...»
«With a passion I detest the saintly — / Their scrupulous and tortured concerns / And shallow thoughts are for themselves; / Themselves alone exclusively they save. They fear exclusively for their souls, / In terror of their dreams' gaping abyss / And of that ancient poisoner the Worm / ...»