Andrew's Digital Domain

Finding a good English translation of Russian poetry is always challenging. So, I would like to share with you this excellent, excellent translation of Vladimir Vysotsky by Andrey Kneller:  Песня о друге Если друг оказался вдруг И не друг, и не враг, а - так, Если сразу не разберешь, Плох он или хорош. Парня в горы тяни - рискни! Не бросай одного его, Пусть он в связке в одной с тобой - Там поймешь, кто такой.  Если парень в горах - не ах, Если сразу раскис и - вниз, Шаг ступил на ледник и - сник, Оступился - и в крик, - Значит, рядом с тобой - чужой, Ты его не брани - гони: Вверх таких не берут, и тут Про таких не поют.  Если ж он не скулил, не ныл, Пусть он хмур был и зол, но - шел, А когда ты упал со скал, Он стонал, но - держал, Если шел за тобой, как в бой, На вершине стоял хмельной, - Значит, как на себя самого, Положись на него. (1966) A song about a friend If your friend just became a man, Not a friend, not a foe,- just s...

I keep six honest serving-men  (They taught me all I knew); Their names are What and Why and When   And How and Where and Who. I send them over land and sea,  I send them east and west; But after they have worked for me,  I give them all a rest. I let them rest from nine till five,  For I am busy then, As well as breakfast, lunch, and tea,  For they are hungry men. But different folk have different views;  I know a person small— She keeps ten million serving-men, Who get no rest at all! She sends'em abroad on her own affairs,  From the second she opens her eyes— One million Hows, two million Wheres, And seven million Whys!

Oh, come with old Khayyam, and leave the Wise To talk; one thing is certain, that Life flies; One thing is certain, and the Rest is Lies; The Flower that once has blown forever dies.

This - the poetry of Rudyard Kipling -  was a bit of a surprise. As a kid I have read (in Russian translation) "The Jungle Book" and other Mowgli stories, the "Just So Stories", etc. So, I was firmly under impression that he only wrote prose and  Kipling's poetry became a small, but very pleasant discovery for me. I can't quite pinpoint why I like Kipling's poetry (for me, a non-native speaker, it is often hard to appreciate  English poetry ), but I do. Here's one of my favorites:                          If If you can keep your head when all about you  Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;  If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,  But make allowance for their doubting too;  If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,  Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,  Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,  And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise; ...

Comin Thro' The Rye O Jenny's a' weet, poor body,  Jenny's seldom dry:  She draigl't a' her petticoatie,  Comin thro' the rye!  Comin thro' the rye, poor body,  Comin thro' the rye,  She draigl't a' her petticoatie,  Comin thro' the rye!  Gin a body meet a body  Comin thro' the rye,  Gin a body kiss a body,  Need a body cry?  Gin a body meet a body  Comin thro' the glen,  Gin a body kiss a body,  Need the warld ken?  Gin a body meet a body  Comin thro' the grain,  Gin a body kiss a body,  The thing's a body's ain.                *** Пробираясь до калитки Полем вдоль межи, Дженни вымокла до нитки Вечером во ржи. Очень холодно девчонке, Бьет девчонку дрожь: Замочила все юбчонки, Идя через рожь. Если кто-то звал кого-то Сквозь густую рожь И кого-то обнял кто-то, Что с него возьмешь? И какая нам забота...

Another one of my favorite poets is Scotland's Favorite Son -  Robert Burns . I first read his poems in Russian translation when I was a little kid and liked them right away. I enjoy them still in both Russian and English. His poetry is full of  beautiful  simplicity and lyricism, and that is why,  I think, it lands itself so well to Russian translation. Well, judge for yourself: My Heart's In The Highlands Farewell to the Highlands, farewell to the North, The birth-place of Valour, the country of Worth; Wherever I wander, wherever I rove, The hills of the Highlands for ever I love. My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here; My heart's in the Highlands a-chasing the deer; A-chasing the wild-deer, and following the roe, My heart's in the Highlands wherever I go. Farewell to the mountains high covered with snow; Farewell to the straths and green valleys below; Farewell to the forests and wild-hanging woods; Farewell to the torrents and loud-pouring floo...

I am a big fan of poetry and "The Rubaiyat" of Omar Khayyám is one of my favorites. Naturally, I have first discovered him in Russian translation and I still enjoy it the most (by far), but recently I have been exploring English translation of his work as well; and some things are not bad at all. So, I decided to do a few posts of my favorites in both languages to showcase the differences and the similarities. This is a first one (hopefully, of many):   You know, my Friends, with what a brave Carouse I made a Second Marriage in my house; Divorced old barren Reason from my Bed, And took the Daughter of the Vine to Spouse.                           *** Мы чашей весом в ман печаль сердец убьем, Обогатим себя кувшинами с вином. Трикраты дав развод сознанью, званью, вере, На дочери лозы мы женимся потом.