STATUE IN TSARSKOYE SELO

STATUE IN TSARSKOYE SELO

N.V.N

Already the leaves of the maple
Are falling on the swanpool,
And on the bloodstained bushes
Of the late-ripening rowan.
And, dazzlingly slender,
Her crossed legs never cold,
Sitting on the northern stone,
She gazes away along the roads.
I felt confused and fearful
Before this girl whom Pushkin sang,
Beams of the fading light
Playing on her shoulders.
For how can I forgive her
The pleasure of enamoured praise ...
See - so elegantly naked,
She's happy being sad.

PHO TƯỢNG Ở TSARSKOYE SELO

Lá thông rụng trên swanpool
Và trên những bụi thanh lương rướm máu, chín muộn
Và, mảnh khảnh chói chang
Hai chân, đan chéo, không bao giờ lạnh
Ngồi trên phiến đá hướng bắc
Nàng đưa mắt nhìn những con đường
Tôi cảm thấy bối rối, và sợ sệt
Trước cô gái mà Pushkin ca tụng
Những đợt sáng
Đùa nghịch trên đôi vai nàng
Làm sao tôi có thể tha thứ cho nàng
Đẹp như thế…
Hãy nhìn kìa
Trần truồng thanh nhã
Buồn hạnh phúc,
Hạnh phúc buồn
Buồn buồn...

ANNA AKHMATOVA
TRANS. D. M. THOMAS

Statue in Tsarskoye Selo 

N.V.N. 

Already the maple leaves

Are falling on the swan pond,

And on the blood-stained bushes

Oflate-ripening mountain ash.

And, dazzlingly slender,

Crossed legs impervious to cold

She sits on the northern stone '

Gazing down along the roads. 

I felt uneasy

Before this celebrated maid.

On her shoulders

Beams of fading light played. 

And how could I forgive her

The delight of your glamoured praise ...

You see, for her, so fashionably nude

It's fun to be sad. ' 

Autumn 1916

The Complete Poems of AA, trans. by Judith Hemshemeyer

1921

Like the fifth act of a drama,

The autumn wind is blowing,

Each flower bed in the park

Resembles a fresh grave.

The simple funeral feast has been held,

And there is nothing more to do.

Why do I linger, as if

A miracle will happen soon?

Thus with a frail hand it's possible to hold

A heavily laden boat to the pier,

Bidding farewell to the one

Who is staying on shore.

Tsarskoye Selo

THE WIND OF WAR 

1 

Vow 

And she who is parting with her sweetheart today-

Let her forge her pain into strength.

By the children we swear, we swear by the graves,

That no one will force us to submit!

July 1941

Leningrad 

2

Grandly they said good-bye to the girls,

Nonchalantly kissed Mother,

All dressed in brand-new clothes,

As if they were going to play soldier.

No bad, no good, no in-between ...

They all took their place,

Where there is neither first, nor last ...

They all lay down to sleep. 

1943