Goldfinch, friend, I'll cock my head —
let's check the world out, just me and you:
this winter's day pricks like chaff;
does it sting your eyes too?
Boat-tailed, feathers yellow-black,
sopped in colour beneath your beak,
do you get, you goldfinch you,
just how you flaunt it?
What's he thinking, little airhead? —
white and yellow, black and red!
Both eyes check both ways — both! —
will check no more — he's bolted!
Мой щегол, я голову закину —
Поглядим на мир вдвоем:
Зимний день, колючий, как мякина,
Так ли жестк в зрачке твоем?
Хвостик лодкой, перья черно-желты,
Ниже клюва в краску влит,
Сознаёшь ли — до чего щегол ты,
До чего ты щегловит?
Что за воздух у него в надлобье —
Чёрн и красен, жёлт и бел!
В обе стороны он в оба смотрит — в обе! —
Не посмотрит — улетел!
«August – asters, / August – starlight, / August – bunches / Of ripe grapes and rusty rowan / Berries – August! With benev’lent, sound, befitting / Emperors, your apple regal, / Like a child, you’re playing, August. / Like a palm, your name smooths heartache, / Emperors b...»
«August – asters, / August – astral, / August – clusters / Of ripe grapes and rusty / Rowan – August! / Like a child, who’s playing gladly / With a ball, you’re playing, August, / With your orb, so, huge and heavy. / Like a palm is to a bosom, / Is your name imperial, ...»
«I Down the alley, the horses are led, / Their long wavy manes - all combed out, / A place full of riddles, how I lament, / Having fallen in love with this town. It’s strange to recall: the soul pined for joy, / Only gasping for breath to pull through, / And now I’ve become a playthin...»
«As with a straw, you drink the soul from me. / I know, its taste is bitter, strong and heady. / I won’t disturb this torment with a plea. / I’ve been at peace for many weeks already. Say when you’re done. It isn’t sad at all, / At last, my soul has vanished from this earth. / I’...»