Akhmatova lyric

[Robert Chandler]

Thank you, Sasha, and others on- and off-line.  And yes, it is indeed a rather odd translation!

R.

On 27 Aug 2011, at 18:30, Alexandra Smith wrote:

> -
>> Can anyone give me the first line, in Russian, of a poem that begins, in a translation by D.M. Thomas:
>> 'You're like a strange and very strict diet;
>> U'm learning to obey and be quiet.'
>> 
> Dear Robert,
> 
> The poem (in Russian) starts with words: Ty vsegda tainstvennyj i novyj (1917).
> See it below. I must say, I find Thomas's translation of this poem rather odd.
> 
> 
> 
> All best,
> Sasha Smith
> 
> 
> 
> * * *
> Ты всегда таинственный и новый,
> Я тебе послушней с каждым днем,
> Но любовь твоя, о друг суровый,
> Испытание железом и огнем.
> 
> Запрещаешь петь и улыбаться,
> А молиться запретил давно.
> Только б мне с тобою не расстаться,
> Остальное все равно!
> 
> Так, земле и небесам чужая,
> Я живу и больше не пою,
> Словно ты у ада и у рая
> Отнял душу вольную мою.
> Декабрь 1917
> 
> 
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Robert Chandler, 42 Milson Road, London, W14 OLD





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