# Alexander Blok. Collection of Poems in English

Alexander Blok

Alexander Blok. 1880-1921. Russian Poetry Classic. Collected Poems in English. Translated from the Russian by Alec Vagapov

Blok Alexander

Alexander Blok. Collection of Poems in English

Перевод: © Vagapov Alec

Origin: http://samlib.ru/a/alec_v/blok-engl.shtml

Создан: 30/12/2006, изменен: 21/04/2007, 137k

Сборник стихов: Поэзия, Переводы

Alexander Blok. 1880-1921. Russian Poetry Classic. Collected Poems in English. Translated from the Russian by Alec Vagapov

____________________________________________________________

## AlexanderBlok

### 1880-1924

### Collection of Poems

Translated from the Russian byаAlec Vagapov


### Table ofа Contents


аааааааааааа * * *

аааааааааааааааааааааааааа toа N. Goon

а

I havenТt lived so long as youЕ

IТve sung while youТve been down and out.

Aаа spiritа cameа out of the blue

To showа the seaа of ample soundЕ

а

Your soulа is chained stirred by the blast

Of storm and whirlwind here and there

While mine is free,а as fine as dust,

That blows aroundа in the air.

а

My friend,а IТve felt since long ago

IТll be impaired by my portionЕ

My heart is berried, and I know

It wonТt beа ever set in motion!

а

When we get tired and cease to be,

When in the haze we disappear

Do come to have a rest with me,

And I will come to see you, dear!

а

February ЦMarch 1898

а

* * *

а

Let the dawnа keep shining out,

Let the warbler sing and trill,

How I wish I were allowed

To embrace you with a thrill!

а

Ourа boat will floatа with blessing

In the canes with rustling leaves,

You will cling to me, caressing,

Heatedа passion on your lips.

а

Sing, my love, and let the air

Flow with the amazing song

YouТreа more beautiful and fair

Than the bird that sings along.

а

May 1898 (March 3, 1921)

а

а

* * *

а

At nightа when troubles settle down

And darkness hides the streets and lanes -

ThereТs so much music all around,

Godа sends us such amazing strains!

а

What is the tempest,а if yourа flowers,

Adorn theа blooming garden-bed!

What are the bitterа tears of ours,

If sunsetа flares turning red!

а

Through blood and torment, grave and crushing,

Oh,а Mistress of the Universe,

Accept theа foamy cup of passion

From an unworthyа slave of yours!

а

1898 ( June 1919)

* * *

Run-down andа worn from daily rambles

I will forsake the bustling whims

To bring to mindа the sores of troubles

And stir the former, bygoneа dreamsЕ

а

If only I could breathe instilling

Theа joy ofа spring into her soul!

Ohа no, I do not aim at killing

Her childish idleness at all!

а

IТd better keep my soul from striving

To her unearthly heights, alas,

Where happinessа appearsа shining ,

But it is not designedа for us.

а

October 30th, 1898

а

***

Poor naked wretches, whereso'er you are,

That bide the pelting of this pitiless stormЕ

King Lear

а

Oh what a storm! ItТs like insane,

The wicked blizzard wails and rages,

The clouds rush with pouring rain

The wind now fades, now wails and surges.

а

Oh what a fright! On such a night

I pity the forsakenа homeless,

Compassion makes me take to flight

Into the arms of soaking coldness!..

а

To fight the darkness and the rain

And shareа the fate of wretched martyrsЕ

Oh what a storm! ItТs like insane,

The wicked blizzard wails and batters,

а

August 24th, 1899

а

***

а

We were together, I recallЕ

The night was thrilled, the fiddle singingЕ

You were mine, my kindly soul,

The loveliest of all in beingЕ.

а

Through murmur of the brook аin peace,

Through theа mysterious female giggle

the lips were longing for аa kiss,

the heart for sound of the fiddleЕ

а

March 9th, 1899 (April 1918 )

а

а

* * *

а

The way it used to be, my soul is lighted

By the unfading glow of bygone days.

But early autumn,аа like a wistful haze,

Has blown a whiff, despairing and blighted.

Dark night. WeТre going separate ways.

а

The sound is distinct, the way it used to be,

And all my sins are in your holy prayers.

Ophelia, my nymph, remember me.

My soul is being vainly filled, in trepidation,

With distant and delightful recollection

а

May 28th, 1900

а

а

а

аааааааа ***

The heavy dream of simple wordly conscience

You will shake off with pangs of love and rue.

V. Solovyov

Anticipating you,а as years go by,а soа drear,

I see the same old image anticipating you.

The skyline is on fire, andа itТs extremely clear.

I wait for you in silence with pangs of love and rue.

а

The skyline is on fire- yourа vision is so near,

I am afraid youТll change and will not look the same,

а

You willа arouse suspicion incurringа wrath, my dear,

By changing your appearance,а theа features and theа frame.

а

I will break down in grief,а frustratedа and austere,

Unable to subdueа the mortal dreams again!

а

The skyline is so lucid.а The lustre is so near

I am afraid youТll change and will not look the same.

а

June 4th 1901, Village of Shakhmatovo

а

***

Life slowly moved like a mature fortune teller

Mysteriously whispering forgotten words.

I sighed, regretting something, loss, or failure,

My head was filled with dreams of other worlds.

а

As I approached the fork I stopped to stare

Atа the serrated forest by the road.

By force of some volition , even there

The heaven seemed to be a heavy load.

а

And I rememberedа the untold andа hidden reason

For captured powerа of youth andа captured hopes,

While up ahead the fading day ofа season,

Was gilding the serrated verdure topsЕ

а

Spring,а tell me, what do I regret? What failure?

What are the dreams that come into my head?

My life,а like a mature fortune teller,

Is whispering the words I didа forget.

а

March 16th , 1902

а

а

***

а

He that hath the bride is the bridegroom:

but the friend of the bridegroom,

which standeth and heareth him,

rejoiceth greatly Е

John, III, 29

I am a boy, I light a candle

And keep the incense burning on.

Beyond the river, in a huddle,

SheТs laughing in a muffled tone.

а

I like the evening public prayer,

The church up by the river side,

The dusk, the muddy bluish air,

The village in the eventide.

а

Resigning to the tender brows,

Admiring the charm of all

I throw a bunch of snow-whiteа flowers

Into the yard, across the wall.

а

And then the hazy screen will fall and

The bridegroom will step down the shrine.

And from the forest border onward

The wedding day will break and shine.

а

July 7th, 1902

а

а

а

а

ааааааааааааааааааааааааааааааааа ***

а

Turning red, templeа stairsа are fading.

Did you tell me youТd keepа the date?

At the entrance to eventideа praying

I have opened my heart.а I will wait.

а

I donТt know my intent and desire.

I may die of relief and delight.

All aflame in the evening fire,

I will bring you to flaring light.

а

Scarletа flame engulfs the environs

Dreamsа have come, unexpectedly, true

You are coming. ThereТsа infiniteа highness

Over me, and the temple, and you.

а

December 25th, 1902

а

а

I recall, we would date at sundown

You would cut the lagoon with the ore.

I admired your white dressing gown

Not revering fine dreams any more.

Our dates would be awkwardly silent.

Up ahead on the sandy shore

Evening candles would light up, and someone

Thought of beauty, about to show

Close-up, burning and intimate feeling

Quiet azure wouldnТt partake.

We would meet in the haze of the evening

On the shore of the rippled lake.

All hasаvanished : love, torment, yearning,

All has faded forevermoreЕ

Slender waist and the voices of mourning,

Our row and your golden ore.

May 13th,а 1902

***

а

Obscure dailyа shadows run about.

The sound of the bells is clear and high.

The stairs of the church are shining out,

Alive, theyТreа waitingа for you to come by.

а

As you step in youТll touch a boulder, faintly,

Cladа in theа gruesomeа virtue of the past,

Perchance,а youТll drop an Aprilа flower gently

Amidst the prudent icons, in the dusk..

а

The rosy shadows run , obscure and scarce,

The sound of the bells is clear and high,

Dark mist is falling on the aged stairsЕ

IТm waitingа for your footsteps to come by.

а

January 4th, 1902

а

а

а

ааааааааааааааааа * * *

а

As I was growing old and fading,

A poet, used to streaks of grey,

I wanted to postpone the ending

The aged men should face some day.

а

A sickly man, a puny creature,

IТm looking for a lucky star,

And in my senile dreams I picture

A lovely image, now so far.

а

Perchance I have forgotten something,

I donТt believe in such a lie.

This tremor has aroused nothing.

IТm neither moved nor touched. Not I!

а

These old time silly tales and stories

Haveа fascinated me somehow,

But IТve been bowed by age and worries,

ItТs funny, I am a poet nowЕ

а

I donТt believe in books and omens

Of silly men of our times!

Damn all those dreams! Damn all those moments

Of my prophetic doggТrel rhymes!

а

So here I am, alone and lonely

An angry man, decrepit, sickЕ

I аstretchа my hand and with a quandary

Bend down to pick my walking stickЕ

а

Whom should I trust? Whom should I doubt?

Those doctors, poets, priests and allЕ

If only I could join a crowd

And learn to be a trivial soul!

а

June 4th, 1903, Bad Nauheim

а

а

а

а

а

а

а

аааааааааааааааааааа ***

а

So when I retire from the timeline stream

Abandoningа censure and praise

Rememberа the kindness, the warm-hearted dream

I lived on andа bloomed in those days.

а

My darling, I know YouТll forget all the spite

There used to beа onа my part,

When You, like a swan,а appeared, snow-white,

Impaling the depth of my heart.

а

I wasnТt the one who hadа wounded Your pride

It wasаа someone elseТsа design.

Dark clouds would troubleа my day and myа light,

Your day was brighter than mine.

а

And when I retire from this lifetime string

And vanish beyond the blue grid,

You will remember the song we would sing,-

IТd singа it, and You would repeat.

а

November 1,а 1903

а

а

а

The girl was singing in a church choir,

About the weary abroad, faraway,

About the ships in the sea, so dire

And those whoТd forgotten their happy day.

So sweet was her voice flying up into highness

With shimmering beam on her shoulder of white,

And every one listened watching from darkness

The way the white garment was singing in light.

August 1905

а

A cheerful bride, sheа was happy and gay,

But all of a sudden sheа passed away.

а

Her mother berried her close nearby

The churchа came down on the pond,а half dry.

а

And over the waves of the deepest place

A cross is floating at an even pace.

а

Days, years and agesа have come to pass,

Butа youth has never called on,а alas.

а

The house, soа tired of waiting for youth,

Has only the mother crowned withа ruth.

а

The woman is working with a needle and thread

The shades of the yarns on the floor vibrate.

а

ItТs quiet and lightа as it was in her prime.

The granny hasа no account of time.

а

As old as the hills and as gray as lead,

It seems,а she willа never ever be deadЕ

а

Amidst the chairs and chests of drawers

The dancingа ofа flies is, as ever,а joyous.

а

There areа bundles of scarletа thread on the floor,

A mouse is scratchingа the wall , as before.

а

The depth of the mirror is quiet and dead,

With the same old woman as gray as lead.

а

The same old thread and the same old mice,

The same old image looking so nice.

а

Itа is in a frame, as dark as the sky,

As always,а appearing modest and shy.

а

The faded appearanceа is quite apathetic,

The clew of the thread is cheerful and hecticЕ

а

Deep are theа rows of the rooms on the right,

And the same oldа garden bloomsа outside,

а

As green as the world and as high as the night,

As tender as dearest daughter that diedЕ

а

УCome back, do come back. The thread wonТt decay.

I want to peacefully pass away.Ф

а

June 3, 1905

а

а

аааааааааааааааааааааааа ***

аааааааааааааа аааааааааааааааааааааааааааааааto Chulkov

а

DonТt build a house by a drowned current

Where life is bustling under a strain,

Believe me, the end is always recurrent,

ItТs incomprehensible, solemn and plain.

а

Like a bedtime story your fate is quiet;

Lonely heart, you had better give in and be blessed.

Go in silence to Vespers, esteemed and desired,

And pray wherever it suits you best.

а

May your visitor be as light as an angel;

Just take him as ifа he were from your dream;

Keepа silent soа no one might notice the stranger

that sat on a bench and flashed byа like a gleam.

а

The meaning of silence will be unknown,

So will the quiet and simple thought.

Yes. She will come with the glare ofа dawn

And kiss on the lips through nobodyТsа fault.

а

June 1905

а

а

ааааа ***

I knew her as far back

as those unbelievable years.

Tutchev

а

With years you havenТt changed, my fair:

YouТre charming, strict, asа clear as day;

The only change is in yourа hair,

ItТsа sleek and withа a flash of gray.

а

Well,а as for me, IТm sitting here,

A stooping man , back at my place,

With an inscrutable idea

IТm looking at your quiet face.

а

The years, they havenТt changed us, really,

We liveа the way we didа before,

Fantastic years, weа love them dearly

And will remember evermoreЕ

а

Their spirit is in azure darkness,

Their ashes in the urn of dust.

ItТs more and moreа relaxed and lustrous

To breathe remembering the past.

а

May 30th ,а 1906.

The Unknown Lady


Note

1аIn vino veritas - The truth is in wine (Latin)

а

April, 24th, 1906, Ozerki

а

I love you , my Guardian Angel,а you are

A sparkle in darkness, my guiding star.

I love you because youТreа my fair bride,

Because ofа my secrets you have deprived.

Becauseа we are bound by secret and night,

Because youТre my mother, my daughter, my bride.

I love you because we areа destined in life

To be ever together as husband and wife.

I love you for hating whatever I do

Like helpingа the poor whom I give their due.

I love you, because we just canТt live at one,

Becauseаа I can killа a detestable man.

IТdа kill in revenge for the weak and the blind,

The one who abased me and people of mine.

а

The one who has jailed the strong and the free,

Who didnТtаbelieve in my fire and me.

Who wants to deprive me of light of the day

And purchase submission from me in some way.

I love you because I am weak,аа I admit

My ancestors were of servile breed.

The poison of kindness hasа taken my life,

I cannot resort to the use of a knifeЕ

I love you because I am weak,а I believe

YouТre strong,а and youТve knownа the savour of grief.

For what is burnt down andа coated with lead

Cannot be tornа and stamped out,а you bet!

We witnessedа this sunset,а and now you and I

Are watching this bottomless abyss, oh my!

Dualа bidding of destiny - how can it be ?

We areа vicious slaves! Our souls are free!

Be humble and daring!а DonТt go! Get away!

WhatТs up ahead? Is it night or day?

Where are we going? Who calls? Who will cry?

Together -а forever Ц constrained - you and Iа !

Shall we revive? Shall we perish and die?

==============================

August 17th, 1906

а

ааааааааааааааа * * *

а

With inspiration and such sweetness

The princess sang about May.

I said : УJust wait, my dear princess,

YouТll have to cry for me some dayФ.

а

She cuddled to me drawingа near

And said: УOh no, forgive me, pray.

Go fighting sword in hand, my dear.

I will safeguard you on your way.

а

Go. YouТllа come back displaying boldness

With feeling of your duty done.

I will retain the ice and coldness,

Remaining yours, locked up, at one.

а

The passers-by will stop and stare,

The years will moderately float

There will be rustling in the air

And clear water in the moatЕ

а

Yes, I will meet you, though belated,

IТll stretch my hand rejoiced, you bet!

My warrior, so long awaited,

With spring upon the spearheadФ.

а

The haze has fallen on the turret,

The castle, you and everything.

IТm sorry, princess. IТve been hurried

To find and bring the flaming spring.

а

October, 1906

а

аааааааааааааааа

а

аааааааааааааааааа ***

а

Aboveа the forest, field and meadow,

Above the land andа water flow

So fresh, congenial and mellow,

You turn up everywhere I go.

а

Your waist under the summer cloud,

Your waist , wrapped up inа fur, I praise,

I sing and laud itа out loud,

Enveloped in poetic haze.

а

Through years and streams, imparting wisdom,

Upon the cross,а and when IТm tight,

My friend,а my dear child of freedom,

I love you , dearly, my light.

а

July 8th, 1907

а

а

ааааааааааааааа ***

а

At night I was conceived and born.

Oh my! I saw the light:

So mournful was my motherТs moan,

So black the hollow night.

а

And when itа clearedа up anew

The day got filled with schemes,

Withа lots ofа tedious things to do.

Dull, boringа heaps of things.

а

УWhatever happens,а let it beФ-

The organ played. Somehow

Since childhood itТs been knownа to me, -

I am a poet now.

а

Affection blossomed in my curls,

And sorrow still remains.

So many times, so many girls

Have kept me locked in chains.

а

And life wentа on the way it should:

Love, poems grief and fun.

The quiet stream took, as itа would,

All in its bed at one.

а

The night was blind, and so was I.

ThatТs what I wanted, tooЕ

One day theyа dug myа grave - oh my! -

And said:а God be with you!

а

That nightа the ice began to break

And flood the river-bed.

I thought the river was awake,

And soа I went ahead.

а

That nightа the stream was dark as pitch,

And entering the night

A woman turned up on the bridge

Just like a beam of light

а

She was a living flame on ice,

A flare of wine and snow.

And if you looked into her eyes

What she was like youТd know.

а

She took me gently by the hand

And looked me in the face.

She gave a cover to me and

A ringа with silverа lace.

а

УStop living, andа donТt say a word,

IТm like a ringing storm.

IТm living in a different world,

And yet I am bright and warm.

а

She calls and temptsа me. And I see

Snow has swept up the earth.

WhatТs there that rings and sings for me?

Another life? Or death?

а

April 12th, 1907

а

***

а

I know your face so well, my fair,

It feels like you have lived with me.

At home,а at parties, - everywhere

Your dainty look is what I see.

а

Your footsteps follow me wherever

I go or happen to be in.

Somebody chases me as ever

IsnТt it you , - the one I mean?

а

ItТs you whoа flashes by, my fair,

The moment I am at the door,

Invisible, and light asа air,

Like an amazingаа dream I saw.

а

I saw youа in the graveyard, dear,

You sat in silence,а looking blue,

A maid in cottonа kerchief here,

I wonder, was it really you?

а

I came up closer, you were sitting,

As I approached you went away.

When by the river you were singing

The bells responded with a play.

а

The sound of ringing filled the air,

I waitedа humbly and I criedЕ

Behind the sound of chimes, however,

Your voice had faded out and diedЕ

а

And in a while I hear no answer.

The kerchief flashes up aheadЕ

I sadly hope there is a chance that

WeТll see each other somewhere yet.

а

August 1, 1908

а

***

а

When you are on my way,

So live and so beautiful,

So tired and weary,

Talking sadly

And thinking of death,

You donТt love anyone

And despise your beauty, -

Well, can аI possibly hurt you?

а

Oh no! IТm not an oppressor,

Nor an arrogant man nor a liar,

Though I know many things,

And have been, since my childhood, аa thoughtful man,

And I care too much for myself.

After all, IТm a writer,

A man calling things by their proper names,

Depriving a flower of delicate fragrance.

а

No matter how much one talks about sad things

No matter how much one thinks of the beginning and the end,

I dare thinkа anyway,

That youТre only fifteen,

And I wish you fell in love with an ordinary man

That loves the earth and the sky

More than the rhymed andа unrhymed speeches

About the earth and the sky.

а

I will really be glad for you,

For only a loving man has the right

to be called a Human being.

February 6th, 1908

а

Russia

а

Three shabby straps begin to flutter

Like in the golden years again,

And sticking in the slushy gutter

The motley spokes can hardly gain.

а

Oh Russia, wretched Russia, dear,

Yourа houses,а so gray and rough,

Your songs that blow, up in the air,

Appear as clear as tears of love.

а

IТm bearing my cross, my dear,

Shall I feel sorry? Well, I wonТt...

Just give your beauty, so austere,

To any sorcerer, you want.

а

He will deceive you and ensnare, -

Yet you wonТt perish, nor get lost.

And only burdened mind and care

Will hide your charm beneath the frost.

а

Well, well... ItТs justа another care,

A teardrop in the stream again,

With fields and forests here and there,

With figured wimples, - youТre the same.

а

Now allа is real in this instance

And easy is the road that lies

When from the kerchief, in the distance,

I see the flashing light of eyes,

When in a cautiousа gloomy tone

Resounds the coacherТs hollow song!..

а

November 18th, 1908

а

***

You are as brightа as snow, my dear.а

And like a church,а you look so white.

I donТt believe this night,а so drear,

And the despairing eventide.

Nor do I want to trust all over

my soul ,а worn out forevermore.

So, maybe,а I,а belatedа rover,

Will knockа upon your quiet door.

You will forgive the foul player

For his perniciousа pain andа grief,

And stretch your hand to the betrayer

And give himа flowers as a gift.

November 8th,а 1908

***

а

I would forget about courage, winning,

Aboutаа gloryаа in the grievous land

When I looked up to see your portrait beaming

Inа an uncomely frame I had at hand.

а

The time had come and you left home for ever.

I threw the cherishedа ring into the night.

You gave your destiny to someone in your favour,

And I forgot your charming face all right.

а

Days,а like a hatefulа swarm,а flew by, a-whirling ,

By passion andа carouse my life was doneЕ

And I remembered you before the lectern, darling,

I called you like my youth,а nowа past and gone.

а

I called your name but somehow you looked down,

I cried - you didnТt care about my mood;

You wrapped yourself up in a dark blue gown,

It was wet night when you left home for good.

а

My love, I donТt know where youТve settled down

And where youТve found a shelter for your pride..

IТm fast asleep, and I can see the gown

You were wearing as you left home that night.

а

To dream about caressа I wonТt be able

For youthа is past and gone,а along with fame!

So I have put your portrait off the table,

Your lovely face in an uncomelyа frame!

а

December 30th, 1908

а

а

а

***

а

The way she did before, she wanted

To breathe in life into my heart,

Into my body, all exhausted,

Into my chilly habitat.

а

She came along like azure welkin,

I couldnТt rise from bed to go,

Nor could I stir my armа to welcome

And tell her I had missed her so!...

а

I watched her withа my eyes dim,а hollow,

Whatever was she grieving for?..

There werenТtа any words,а nor sorrow,

Nor joy between us any more.

а

The earthly heart was tired and wasted.

So many days and years have past!...

The earthlyа happiness,а belated,

Came riding in a cab so fast!

а

Now, deathly sick and broken down,

IСm yearning for the change ofа tide,

IТm contentа with the sundown

And unafraid of endless night.

а

I had eternityТs sensation

With peace and quiet in my heart,

It quenchedа theа fire of vexation

With chilly dampnessа of the nightЕ

а

July 30th, 1908

а

а

***

а

Streets wereа empty,а it was just another

Boring night !

Why were you so innocent, andа rather

Filled with pride?

а

Drops of soaking darkness falling down Е

I will rise,

And IТllа throw a challenge, with a frown,

To the skies.

а

ThereТs no happiness on earth,а undoubted,

Here we stand.

Now and then we think about it

Gun in hand..

а

And again we laugh and shed a tear,

Life goes on!

Well, itТs just another day;а itТs clear:

WeТll be gone!

а

November 4th, 1908

а

а

а

а

***

To boring, tedious noise and ringing

And to the city empty fuss,

Relaxed at heart, now IТm leaving

Into the drizzle, void and dusk.

I cut the fibre of my senses,

My whereabouts I forgetЕ

I see, the snow, trams, buildings, fences

With lights and darkness up ahead.

And what if I, bewitched, enchanted,

My conscience thread beyond retrieve,

Come home disgraced and broken-hearted,-

Will you be able to forgive?

You are my leading light, my wizard,

You know the target, I presume,

Will you forgive my storms and blizzards,

My trash, my poetry and gloom?

Or,а p'rhaps, youТd better, not forgiving,

Awake the bells upon the dome,

So that the slash at night, misleading,

Might not seclude me from my home?

September 2, 2006

February 2, 1909

Theа Double

а

One day in foggy October

I walkedа recollectingа a song,

(The instance of kissingа all over!

Caresses that cannot be wrong!)

Atа lastа inа the foggy October

There cameа the forgotten song.

а

I dreamed I was young and not worried,

And you were as live as a bloomЕ

My dream took meа out and carried

Away from the wind, rain and gloomЕ

(ThatТs howа by our dreams we are scurriedЕ

So will you come back, live as a bloom?)

а

Andа then, emerging from darkness,

Aа staggering youth,а comes to me.

(Oh what an amazingа likeness

To someone I happened to see!)

Emerging fromа foggyа darkness,

Aа staggering youth,а comes to me.

а

УIТm tired of roamingа - he grouses-

And taking the air, so cold,

Reflecting inа mirrors of others

And kissingа those girls,а young and oldЕФ

Iа fancied that some day or other

IТd meet him againа in this worldЕ

а

Then,а smiling with self assertion,

He vanished for ever moreЕ

Sad imageЕI had the impression

Thatа I hadа seen it beforeЕ

Perchance it wasа me whom I saw

Turn up as a mirror reflection?

October 1909

***

I while away my reckless life,а

My life, extremely dull and sombre,

Now I rejoice, restrained and sober,

Now I shed tears, sing and strive.

But if one day I am to die?

What if behind me, stands the visage,

That covers mirror, like an image,

With his enormous hand? Ohаmy !

The mirror light will flash and burn,

IТll close my eyes in trepidation

And IТll retreat to destination

From where no one will returnЕ

September 17th, 1910

аааааааа

аааааааааааааааа

аааа At the Restaurantааааа

а

I will never forget it (did it happen-who cares?)

Burnt and split by the sunset blaze

Was the pallid celestial vast,а and some flares

Came to light inа the yellow space.

а

а

There I sat by the window,а in a crowded chamber.

Fiddlesticks were singing again.

And I sent you a flower, black rose, I remember,

Inа a goblet withа golden champagne.

а

As you glanced, full of pride,а I was slightlyа embarrassed,

But I looked and I bowed from above.

And addressing the man standing by, harsh and balanced,

You said: УThis one is also in loveФ.

а

а

All at onceа the guitarsа started playing the song and

Fiddlesticks played inа tuneаа with the bandЕ

But you were with me with your youthful dishonour,

I could see by the move of your hand.

а

а

And you dashedа like a bird as if suddenly roused,

Passing by, like my dream you were lightЕ

And there came a sweetа fume,а and the eyelashes drowsed

To the whisper of silkа in the night.

а

Now and then from the mirror at me youТd be glancing,

As you didа УCatch it nowФа you would askЕ

And the jewelryа rattled, the gipsyа kept dancing

And she screamedа of herа love to the dusk.

а

April 19th, 1910

а

* * *

а

There is impulsive youth again,

With bursts of vigour, views far-outЕ

But happy moments never came.

At least this doesnТt raise a doubt!

а

You have to be on the alert

For threat awaitsа you here and yonder.

And should you get away unhurt,

You will, at last, believe in wonder.

а

At last youТll see andа understand

That fortune wasnТt your intention,

And that the futileа dream you had

Was of extremely brief duration.

а

The cup was filled and overflowed

With joyа ofа exquisite creation,

And all I had is your possession,

And we are bound with the world.

а

I think that every now and then,

Youа will remember, smiling dearly,

The dubiousа childish dream we tend

To take for happiness,а naively!

а

1912

а

***

а

Iа bless my lucky stars above,

Aаа better fate I donТtа desire.

My heart, so much youа youТve beenа in love!

My mind, so oft youТve been afire!

а

Thoughа happy times and grievous torments

Have leftа their bitter trace, allа right,

Yet in the boredom, storm and torrents

I havenТt lost my former light.

а

You whom I tormented, forgive me.

We shouldnТt go divided ways,

What canТt be said in words, believe me,

I have discovered in your face.

а

I have my eye on it and worry,

My heart is beatingа in dismay,

At night, throughа darkness, snow and flurry

It goes its own righteous way.

а

January 15th , 1912

а

To Muse

а

а

There isа fatal news of perdition

In your innermost songs through and through.

ThereТsа a curse of holy volition

And affront of happiness, too.

а

Their power, soа captivating,

Makes me sayа whatа everyone says:

Fair angels youТve been abating

Fascinate them with your grace.

а

When you laugh at belief, my dear,

There suddenly shines over you

The insipidа amaranth sphere

Which, at one time, came in my view.

а

Good or bad, youТre here for a wander.

People say , andа itТs just as well:

Some believe you areа Muse and wonder

While for me you are torment and hell.

а

I donТt know how it allа came about,

I was feeble and impotent, too,

I saw you,а and I didnТt burn out

But I sought consolation in you...

а

Well, I wantedа discord and contention,

And I wander: how you did you come

To present me with constellation,

Meadow, flowers, and curse of your charm?

а

Your caresses, soа frenzied and tipsy,

Were wilder thanа night and rain,

much more fleeting than love of a jypsy

Andа much headier than golden champagne.

а

There wasа fatalа delight and pleasure

In the trampling of what is saint,

Bitter passion, like herb, as a measure

Of delight and the heartТs content!

а

December 29th, а1912

а

а

а

а

а

а

а

а

а

а

а

* * *

а

My friend, youТll understand, of course!

Now at this hour of dejection

Like magic,а firmly,а desperation

Dismays meа fillingа with remorseЕ

а

Why is there so much depression

And pain in my contractedа chest?

I donТt need lights, and I confess

IТm tired of any congregation.

а

Those waiting for the Lord, with biasЕ

The thing they find is justа the devilЕ

They are despaired by the revel

Ofа Satan always telling liesЕ

а

Those showingа mercy gentle-willed

And wounding others willy-nillyЕ

Or should we stop attempting,аа really,

Forа ailment is the only shield?

а

December 29th, 1912

а

***

а

Worlds, years go by. The universe is bare.

Its eyes of gloom areа staring at us.

And you, my soul,а worn-out, unaware,

Hold forth that happiness will come to passЕ

а

And what is happiness? The chilly evenings

In darkening gardens, god-forsaken wood?

Or vicious taste of wine, аand wanton feelings,

Perdition of the soul, and jovial mood?

а

Is happiness a moment, brief and solid?

Is it oblivion, a dream,а andа peace and quiet?..

As you wake up а- itТsа flight again, so horrid,

Touching your heart, unknown crazy flightЕ

а

You take a breath -а and see youТre out of dangerЕ

ThatТs where you feel a sudden push again!

The spinning-top set going by some stranger

Flies buzzing in a hurry,а like insane.

а

As weа get hold of sharp and sliding border

And listenа to the buzzing sound of chime,-

DonТt we go madа amidst the motley order

And change ofаа made-up reasons, space and time?..

а

When will it stop? We wonТt be able, really,

To listen to this dinа without end...

How terrible it is ! How wild ! Extremely!

Give me a hand, forget it all, my friend!

а

July 2, 1912

а

а

а

а

а

а

а

а

***

I see the long forgotten blaze,

And I can clearlyа hear, in silence,

Another song behind the violins,

The chesty voice the filled the space.

а

That Сs how she answered all my pledges,

My love and passion,а first and last,

I recognize it when the blast

Of wind andа blizzard wails and rages.

а

The past has gone without a trace,

And only some oneТsа aspiration

Remindsа me somehow, with good grace,

Ofа happiness and exultation.

а

December 12th, 1913

а

***

а

You and I are forlorn,а I presume.

LetТs relaxа in this quiet room.

а

In this corner, so warm and so bright,

Let us watch the October night.

а

As before, there are lights outside.

Dear friend, we are old and retired.

а

All is gone:а hardship, blizzards and dread.

Why on earth are you looking ahead?

а

It appears you wish you could read

News or message you badly need.

а

Are you waiting for an angelТs gift?

All is gone and canТt be retrieved.

а

All we have are the books, walls and days.

Dear friend, we wonТt change our ways.

а

I donТt grumble, my wishes are small,

And I donТtа grieve for bygones at all.

а

And I wonder just why you begin

Threadingа beads on a shinyа string

а

Like you did in the past, long ago,

Those were really theа days, you know!

а

But you were young then,а and how!

And your silk was brighter than now.

а

Youа were veryа dexterousа thenЕ

Take a bright,а shiningа threadа again,

а

So the shine of the thread, like a spark,

Might subdue,а and surmountа the dark..

а

October 19th, 1913

а

а

а

а

а

а

а

Oh no ! You cannotа disenchant my heart

With flatter, beauty,а or appreciation.

IТll be a stranger, someone far apart,

A ghost, devoid of life, in your imagination.

а

YouСll go away. And you will kiss devoutly

Aа snow-white shroud, andа by candle lights

YouТll dream and fancy burying someone sadly

And standing at the head three days and nights.

а

Content with the amazing dreamy hours

You will reproach your life in the extreme.

And you will decorate with tenderа flowers

The burial hill you fancied in your dream.

а

Andа suddenly youТll see my shadeа appear

Before you on the ninth and fortieth day:

Unrecognized, uncomely, plain and drear,

The kind of shade you looked for, by the way!

а

Withа time yourа grieves and sorrowsа will fade out,

And you will humbly want to start another life

With dreamsа and tales you cannot do without Е

For simple beauty, you will wish and strive.

а

He will turn up,а well-known, long awaited,

To wake you upа fromа the unearthly rest.

And spring,а the last one,а so anticipated,

Willа take you to anotherа world, so blessed

а

And I will die,а forgotten by you, darling,

The day your new companion comes to stay,

The moment you decide to tell him, smiling,

That all your pains and troubles are away.

а

You will forget my name andа burial moundЕ

But then -а you will wake up and see itТs dark.

Caressing him, youТll suddenly come round,

Remember meа and ask me to come back!

а

Devoutly, youТllа stretch your hands, my dear,

At night, so desolate, my poor heart of gold!

Alas,а the sounds of life donТtа reach the ear

Of those consoled byа the unknown world.

а

You will condemn, afflicted and austere,

Your life that left no chance to love for you!

But in my verse youТll find the answer, dear:

Its hidden warmth will help you live anew.

а

December 15th, 1913

а

а

а

а

а

а

а

а

а

а

а

а

а

***

а

I'm Hamlet. And my blood runs cold

When treachery is up to scheming;

My only love in the whole wide world.

Is in my heart, among the living.

а

Ophelia, the cold of life

Has taken you away, my dear;

The prince of Demark , in a strife,

Hit with a blade, I am dying here.

а

February 6th, 1914

а

* * *

а

My earthly heart gets cold and all,

But I sustain the shivers boldly.

I keep my love of people fondly,

Unansweredа reverence, in my soul.

а

But love is followed by discord

Which ripens into strong intention?

To read oblivion or award

In men's and ladiesТа reflection.

а

Well, let them call.а Forget it all!

Go back to your sweet home, you poet!

Oh no! I'd better freeze and fall!

There is no peace on earth - I know it.

а

1911- February 6th, 1914

а

а

а

* * *

а

You were the fairest of all, no denying,

Please, donТt curse me and, pray, donТt disgrace!

My train, like the song of a gipsy,а is flying,

Like those irrevocable daysЕ

а

What I loved is gone by, disappearedЕ

Up ahead is a hiddenа wayЕ

Unforgettable, blessed and revered,

IrretrievableЕа pardon me, pray!

а

1914

а

а

а

аааааааааааааа ааа***

а

Although I have never loved,

And toа break my oath IТm bound,-

Whenever I see you around

You stir up my soul and my blood!

а

Your hands, they are far and yonder !

Intoа these boring days

You bring your charm and your grace

Even when we are asunder!

а

And in my abode, not warm,

Desolate, cold and abandoned,

And in my dream ever bounded

I see the forsaken home.

а

I dream aboutа old instants,

As well as theа bygone daysЕ

It seems that my thoughts and ways

Are bound with your existence!

а

Whoever might call I wonТt come

And have the fussy caresses

Instead of the hopeless cases.

So I withdraw and keep mum.

а

October 8th, 1915

High up, above the sleepy world,

The kite flies round drawing circles

And watching the deserted wold.

At home the mom her sunny suckles:

УNow take it, suck the breast, аbe good,

Grow, bear your cross of babyhoodФ.

а

The years fly over, full of drama

With wars and villages aflame,

But you, my land, are much the same

In all antiquity and glamour.

When will the mother stop deploring?

When will the kite give over hovТring?

а

March 22nd, 1916

____________________________________________________________

© Blok Alexander. Alexander Blok. Collection of Poems in English

Перевод: © Vagapov Alec

Origin: http://samlib.ru/a/alec_v/blok-engl.shtml

Создан: 30/12/2006, изменен: 21/04/2007, 137k

Сборник стихов: Поэзия, Переводы