Night, Street, Lamp, Pharmacy by Alexander Blok
October 10, 1912
Translated from Russian by Alfia Wallace
Night, Street, Lamp and Pharmacy
A light so senseless and so slight
That forty years of legacy
will be the same - no chance of flight.
You'll die - and then you'll start again
It all repeats, an ancient stamp,
Night, icy ripple of canal,
Pharmacy, Street and Lamp.
Ночь, улица, фонарь, аптека,
Бессмысленный и тусклый свет.
Живи еще хоть четверть века -
Все будет так. Исхода нет.
Drugstore by Edward Hopper, 1927
October 10, 1912
Translated from Russian by Alfia Wallace
Night, Street, Lamp and Pharmacy
A light so senseless and so slight
That forty years of legacy
will be the same - no chance of flight.
You'll die - and then you'll start again
It all repeats, an ancient stamp,
Night, icy ripple of canal,
Pharmacy, Street and Lamp.
Ночь, улица, фонарь, аптека,
Бессмысленный и тусклый свет.
Живи еще хоть четверть века -
Все будет так. Исхода нет.
Умрешь - начнешь опять сначала
И повторится все, как встарь:
Ночь, ледяная рябь канала,
Аптека, улица, фонарь.
Drugstore by Edward Hopper, 1927
Check out this one
ReplyDeleteSome night and street, some chemist’s lantern
Is bringing senseless dreary light.
Well, nothing changes. That’s one pattern.
Live extra twenty-five and find.
You die – you start a life all over
All things repeat as did before.
That night , cold waters at quay’s border
That street, that light, that chemist’s store.
Translated by Parphyonov
I love it, Parphyonov. There are some tell-tale non-native English signs in the syntax, but that doesn't matter. It preserves the feel, the atmosphere, which is the most essential element in this poem. Thank you.
DeleteAbsolutely love this.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I very much enjoy your blog.
Delete