Marina Tsvetaeva. This tenderness — how to explain it?... Translated by Irina Zheleznova

Marina Tsvetaeva
This tenderness — how to explain it?..

This tenderness — how to explain it?
I've touched other locks and many,
I've touched other locks, and darker,
More burning lips known than yours.

The stars rose and sank above me.
(This tenderness — how to explain it?)
The stars rose and sank. Above me
Pressed close to the singers breast.

This tenderness — how to escape it?
How flee from it, sly young hopeful,
You singer with silky lashes
Who happened to pass this way?

Translated by Irina Zheleznova

Марина Цветаева
Откуда такая нежность?..

Откуда такая нежность?
Не первые — эти кудри
Разглаживаю, и губы
Знавала темней твоих.

Всходили и гасли звёзды,
— Откуда такая нежность? —
Всходили и гасли очи
У самых моих очей.

Ещё не такие гимны
Я слушала ночью тёмной,
Венчаемая — о нежность! —
На самой груди певца.

Откуда такая нежность,
И что с нею делать, отрок
Лукавый, певец захожий,
С ресницами — нет длинней?

February 18, 1916

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Marina TsvetaevaThis tenderness — how to explain it?..