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Open Poetry #43
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"Like a river, I was turned off course..."
| Open Poetry #43 |
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"Like a river, I was turned off course..." |
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Master Senior Member
since 1999-08-18
Posts 1867Boston, MA 
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*I've translated this poem from Russian. The original is by Anna Akhmatova, written in 1945. I've published a collection of her poetry that I've translated into English and it can be found here, for those who are interested: http://www.amazon.com/Final-Meeting-Selected-Poetr y-Akhmatova/dp/1438234732/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215803357&sr=1-5 *** Like a river, I was turned off course By the severe and brutal epoch. My life was counterfeited and it flowed Into another channel past the other channel. I never got to know my native shores. Oh, just how many spectacles I missed, The curtains rose without me And without me, fell. How many friends Of mine, throughout my life, I never met And just how many city skylines Could have evoked my tears, But I know just one city in the world, And I can find it, blindfolded, in a dream. How many poems I did not compose. Their secret choir now encircles me And, one fine day, perhaps, it may just Strangle me... I know all the beginnings, all the ends, And life after the end, and something else, Which, at the present time, I will not mention. There is some other woman who has taken The only place that I once used to claim, And now she bears my lawful name, Leaving an alias for me, with which, I've done the best I could have hoped to do. The grave I'll lay in will not be my own. But there are times when wild gusts of spring, Or word arrangements in some casual book, Or someone's smile suddenly will draw Me back into the life that did not happen. In such a year this could have happened, And in such – this: to travel, ponder, see, And to recall, and enter a new love, Like entering a mirror, with blunt awareness Of treason and the wrinkle that did not exist A day ago... But if, from that life that I've lost, I could have looked and seen my present life, At last, I'd know what envy truly is... |
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| © Copyright 2008 Andrey Kneller - All Rights Reserved | |||
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
A powerful and superbly written poem with multiple emotions which just has to be an excellent translation. Would you mind emailing me the original Russian, if there is no problem with that? I don't speak Russian, but one night when I was at University and was supposed to be studying for a Philosophy exam, but needed a break, I taught myself the Russian alphabet and pronunciation and tried it out on reading aloud some practice reading passages (I taught myself out of a book and so my pronunciation was probably very anglicised). I was then studying Classical Greek and found that some of the letters of the alphabet were similar. It is many years since I did that and have probably forgotten it all, but I still have the book (called "Teach Yourself Russian" - just have to find it amongst my approximately 2000 books in ceiling high bookshelves), and would like to see if (after finding the book and refreshing my memory on the alphabet and pronunciation) I can stumble through reading the whole poem aloud in some way or other. I haven't yet gone further with teaching myself Russian, but I would like to think that at some stage, I will make the time to do so. Perhaps, now would be a good time to start - though I am drowning in things I need to do! It is such a fiercely powerful-sounding language - like the name Anna Akhmatova - musical, but with a very strong beat. Ah, if only I had the time to teach myself a whole lot of languages that I would love to speak, read and write . . . . Oh, and I was born in 1945, the year in which Anna Akhamatova wrote the poem, just as a matter of interest. - Owl |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Oh, and I forgot to say, I envy your ability to speak, read and write Russian. Are you Russian? The Andrey seems to suggest it - and anglicised version of a Russian name, perhaps? However, the Kneller seems to suggest that your mother was Russian and your father a German American, perhaps? And you grew up in the USA which explains why English is your first language? If all this is far too intrusive, ignore it all. My curiosity sometimes goes too far. I have just read your biography on your website so most of my questions have been answered! I must say, that your website is probably the most superb poetry website I have ever been on. It is fast, efficient, effective, dramatic and a whole lot of things that I can't put my finger on right now. - Owl |
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Master Senior Member
since 1999-08-18
Posts 1867Boston, MA |
Hi Owl, You're pretty dead on. I am Russian, born in Moscow in 1983, moved to US in 93. So 10 years in Russia, 15 years here, - I'm fluent in both languages. My parents are both Russian, but I do think that "Kneller" has German origins - perhaps, some ancestors of mine, but I know nothing of them. Thanks for your interest. I emailed you the link to the original Russian text. |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thanks, Andrey. I got the email, but as I replied, my overprotective server deleted it, but in moments, I found the link on your excellent website. I have saved both your and her Russian website to my Favourites and will attempt the Russian some time over the weekend. I am so excited at the idea! I can't wait! - Owl |
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Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
Another highly enjoyable offering, dear Andrey. You are sooooooooo good and honour Anna Akhmatova so deeply, it's a pleasure! Love, Margherita |
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Magnus
since 2001-10-10
Posts 14135South Carolina, USA |
Nicely done, thanx for sharing this. |
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