"All is traded, betrayed and languished..."

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Open Poetry #43

"All is traded, betrayed and languished..."

Master
Senior Member

since 1999-08-18

Posts 1867
Boston, MA

0 posted 2008-07-26 11:05 PM

*I've translated this poem from Russian. The original is by Anna Akhmatova, written in 1921. 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, (this poem is not yet included in the book, but will be added to the new edition soon): 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

***

All is traded, betrayed, and languished,
Death’s black wing has been flashing in flight,
All is gnawed at by ravenous anguish…
So how is it that we bask in the light?

In the day, the woods send a stream
Of a cherry scent through the town nearby,
And new galaxies shimmer and gleam
In the translucent night skies of July, -

And something wonderous nears the neglected
Broken homes on the verge of its entry,
Still unknown to us, but expected
And desired since the turn of the century.

http://home.comcast.net/~kneller/aboutme.html

Margherita
Member Seraphic

since 2003-02-08

Posts 22236
Eternity

1 posted 2008-07-27 06:54 AM

Awesome, absolutely awesome! I need not seek out other translations to compare yours with them, I simply think yours is perfect as it is.

I will keep this for its deep wonderful meaning, dear Andrey!

Love,
Margherita

Marchmadness
Member Rara Avis

since 2007-09-16

Posts 9271
So. El Monte, California

2 posted 2008-07-28 12:43 PM

Beautiful, Andrey.
Ida

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

3 posted 2008-07-28 03:09 PM

Hello Master. It's been a long time.

I admire very much the brave art of translation, although I'm ill-equipped to judge the stuff. I do thank you, and others here at Pip, who share their knowledge with us, and thus broaden my horizons a bit. And so beautifully, too.

(Essorant has done some in C/A that you might like to check out as well.)

It's good to see you here again.

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