Speaking In Tongues
Scribbling In Voices

MARINA TSVETAYEVA

ÌÀÐÈÍÀ ÖÂÅÒÀÅÂÀ

Translated by Maya Jouravel

 

Translation © 1994-1998 by Maya Jouravel

 

Here's, the window light...
Two suns cool down...

 

* * *

Here's, the window light,
No one's asleep.
Drinking wine tonight?
Or — not drinking it?
Or the two just can't,
Let each other go...
Every house, friends,
Has this kind of window.
 
Trysts and partings scream —
Window in the dark!
Maybe — hundred beams,
Maybe — just three sparkles...
None and no ease
There — for my conscience.
Since the same has seized
Now my very house.
 
Pray, my little friend, for the sleepless house,
For the light undoused!

* * *

Âîò îïÿòü îêíî,
Ãäå îïÿòü íå ñïÿò.
Ìîæåò — ïüþò âèíî,
Ìîæåò — òàê ñèäÿò.
Èëè ïðîñòî — ðóê
Íå ðàçíèìóò äâîå.
 êàæäîì äîìå, äðóã,
Åñòü îêíî òàêîå.
 
Êðèê ðàçëóê è âñòðå÷ —
Òû, îêíî â íî÷è!
Ìîæåò — ñîòíè ñâå÷,
Ìîæåò — òðè ñâå÷è...
Íåò è íåò óìó
Ìîåìó — ïîêîÿ.
È â ìîåì äîìó
Çàâåëîñü òàêîå.
 
Ïîìîëèñü, äðóæîê, çà áåññîííûé äîì,
Çà îêíî ñ îãíåì!


* * *

Two suns cool down -- Almighty, put it to rest! --
One -- in the skies, the other - inside my chest.
Two of these suns have -- can I forgive myself --
Two of these suns have -- been driving my mind insane.
Both’re cooling down now -- no harm comes from their rays.
The one that’s hotter -- wins out the cool down race.

* * *

Äâà ñîëíöà ñòûíóò — ãîñïîäè, ïîùàäè! —
Îäíî — íà íåáå, äðóãîå — â ìîåé ãðóäè.
Êàê ýòè ñîëíöà — ïðîùó ëè ñåáå ñàìà? —
Êàê ýòè ñîëíöà ñâîäèëè ìåíÿ ñ óìà!
È îáà ñòûíóò — íå áîëüíî îò èõ ëó÷åé!
È òî îñòûíåò ïåðâûì, ÷òî ãîðÿ÷åé.