Speaking In Tongues
Scribbling In Voices

BORIS PASTERNAK

ÁÎÐÈÑ ÏÀÑÒÅÐÍÀÊ

Translated by Maya Jouravel

© Translation, Maya Jouravel, 1994-1998



WINTER NIGHT


It swept, it swept around the land
In all its turnings.
The candle’s burning on a stand,
The candle burning.

As swarm of midges in the dark
To fire flutters,
Rushed flakes of snow from the park
To window shutter.

The storm was shaping on the glass
Some darts and circlings...
The candle burning on the desk,
The candle burning.

On ceiling, lit up by a blaze
The shadows tossing,
Of crossing arms and crossing legs,
Of fate-doom crossings.

And to the floor, your little shoes
With taps were slipping.
And wax from night-light on your dress,
Like tears, was dripping.

And all has vanished in a daze,
Snow white and ashen
The candle burning on the desk,
The candle burning.

The flame was flickered by the wind...
Heat of temptation
Heaved, as an angel, its two wings
In cross-form fashion.

It swept that month without rest
Again and over,
The candle burning on the desk,
The candle burning...

ÇÈÌÍßß ÍÎ×Ü


Ìåëî, ìåëî ïî âñåé çåìëå,
Âî âñå ïðåäåëû.
Ñâå÷à ãîðåëà íà ñòîëå,
Ñâå÷à ãîðåëà.

Êàê ëåòîì, ðîåì ìîøêàðà
Ëåòèò íà ïëàìÿ,
Ñëåòàëèñü õëîïüÿ ñî äâîðà
Ê îêîííîé ðàìå.

Ìåòåëü ëåïèëà íà ñòåêëå
Êðóæêè è ñòðåëû,
Ñâå÷à ãîðåëà íà ñòîëå,
Ñâå÷à ãîðåëà...

Íà îçàðåííûé ïîòoëîê
Ëîæèëèñü òåíè,
Ñïëåòåíüÿ ðóê, ñïëåòåíüÿ íîã,
Ñóäüáû ñïëåòåíüÿ...

È ïàäàëè äâà áàøìà÷êà
Ñî ñòóêîì íà ïîë,
È âîñê ñëåçàìè ñ íî÷íèêà
Íà ïëàòüå êàïàë.

È âñå òåðÿëîñü â ñíåæíîé ìãëå,
Ñåäîé è áåëîé.
Ñâå÷à ãîðåëà íà ñòîëå,
Ñâå÷à ãîðåëà.

Íà ñâå÷êó äóëî èç óãëà,
È æàð ñîáëàçíà
Âçäûìàë, êàê àíãåë, äâà êðûëà
Êðåñòîîáðàçíî.

Ìåëî âåñü ìåñÿö â ôåâðàëå,
È òî è äåëî
Ñâå÷à ãîðåëà íà ñòîëå,
Ñâå÷à ãîðåëà...