Speaking In Tongues
Scribbling In Voices

ALEXANDER BLOK

Translated by Maya Jouravel

Translation by Maya Jouravel, 1994-2000



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A girl was singing in church's choir
Of all the weary in foreign soil,
Of all the ships that sailed the waters,
Of all, who have forgotten their joy.

So sang her voice, to cupola, reaching,
And on white shoulder a dazzling ray,
And in the dark each one harking and watching
How the white dress did sing in the ray.

It seemed to them that joy is up coming,
That, all the ships, in the quiet berth,
That all the weary in a foreign dwelling
Found radiant life for themselves.

And the voice was sweet, and the ray was tiny,
And only up high, next to Royal gate,
Privy to mysteries, a child was crying
That nobody ever is coming back.

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Penny Gaff

Little penny gaff is on
For the kids who are merry and bright;
There the girl and the boy gazing
At ladies, at kings, and at sprites.
...And that hellish tune is whining over our lot,
And despondently howls the bow...
Scary demon has captured the tiny tot,
And the cranberry juice runs down.
-- The boy
He'll be saved from the black demolition
By a beck of a snow-white hand.
There lights getting on,
Look at all the commotion
See the smokes? See the torch on the stand?
This, no doubt, is the queen's procession.
-- The girl
Come now, why all this teasing talk?
This is devilish escort
In the daytime, the queen goes out for a walk,
Head to toes with rose anadems adorned.
And jingling their swords holds the train of her frock
Admiring knights stalking escort.
Suddenly the droll bent through the footlights
Screaming, Please help me! Please help!
I am bleeding red cranberry juices!
I have bandages from rags!
I have a paper helmet on my head!
Ive a wooden sword in my hand!
Here both the girl and the boy broke in tears,
And the merry penny guff did shut its doors.

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