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Teen Poetry #2
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Master
Senior Member
since 1999-08-18
Posts 1867
Boston, MA

0 posted 1999-11-01 02:03 PM


*This is another translation of V.Vysotky

Someone spotted a fruit, still unripe
Shook the stem and it fell, lacking poise
There’s one who did not sing a line
And was left unaware of his voice

Perhaps, he had conflicts with fate
And by chance, his plans went amiss
But, the guitar string has already been laid
And the flaw was unknowingly missed

He started humbly with a “do”
But never finished that one note
His first accord fell much too flat
He made an unexciting vice
A dog was barking, and a cat
Was chasing mice...

It’s funny, don’t you think it’s wry?
He left his joke half-way complete
He did not fully taste his wine
He didn’t even take a sip

He was still only plotting his fret
He seemed timid and slow to begin
And his soul, as if droplets of sweat,
Perspired from under his skin

Merely starting a duel, so inane
He walked slowly onto the floor
Only grasping the rules of the game
While the ref hadn’t opened the score

He yearned to know so much at once
And yet, he never quite advanced
Still no conclusion could be drawn
He never traveled deep enough
And her, the one who’s still alone
He lacked a chance to wholly love

It’s funny, don’t you think it’s droll?
He hurried, ran, but all in vain
And questions that he hadn’t solved
Unsolved remained

What I’m telling you now aren’t lies
He was pure to the style he held
On the snow, he was writing her rhymes
And it’s sad that the snow had to melt

It was snowing that day, and at least
He was free to write on the snow
On the run, he caught with his lips
Crystal flakes in their brilliant glow

To her, in a silver-gilt surrey
He never made it all the way
He had no time to sprint nor fly
He never ran, the runaway
His star-sign—Taurus-- from up high
Just lapped the ice-cold Milky Way

It’s kind of funny, don’t you think?
While lacking seconds, time was tight,
And from a single missing link
There’s a halt, unfinished flight...

Seemed funny, didn’t it? Of course
To me and you, it surely did
A bird in flight, a racing horse...
Whose fault is it? Whose fault is it?


[This message has been edited by Master (edited 11-02-1999).]

© Copyright 1999 Andrey Kneller - All Rights Reserved
Systematic Decay
Senior Member
since 1999-09-15
Posts 1301
That place with padded walls and funny people in white.........
1 posted 1999-11-01 07:51 PM


Master, I enjoyed this poem. Can I ask you a question though? And this is not to point any fingers. Why is it you have ceased to reply to other's poems? I have seen you reply to others before...but not for a long time. Now it just seems that the only poems you reply to are your own-why?

------------------
Thinking is just what a great many people think they are doing when they are merely rearranging their predjudices.



Master
Senior Member
since 1999-08-18
Posts 1867
Boston, MA
2 posted 1999-11-02 02:39 PM


You want the truth, I haven't been able to find anything that really grabbed my attention lately. I'm still reading, but most of the poems have worn-out meanings and lack good rhythm and rhyme (and I really have no clue how to critique a free verse poem). I haven't been commenting on many poems because... well for one, I don't consider myself a critic and two... I don't want to be too harsh on the writers and three... I don't want to simply say that I like it to everything I read. I found it that too many people do that, they say, "great writing" when they don't even understand the poems. Well that's my explanation, I hope you understand!
Systematic Decay
Senior Member
since 1999-09-15
Posts 1301
That place with padded walls and funny people in white.........
3 posted 1999-11-02 08:16 PM


I understand, Master, However, I never say good poem or great work unless I mean it.

------------------
Thinking is just what a great many people think they are doing when they are merely rearranging their predjudices.



Marilyn
Member Elite
since 1999-09-26
Posts 2621
Ontario, Canada
4 posted 1999-11-02 10:07 PM


Now this poem made more sense to me the the other interpertations of Vysotky I have read from you. I still do not know the poet except through your work. I enjoyed reading this but can not validly critique it.
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