Speaking In Tongues
Scribbling In Voices

SERGEY YESENIN

Translated by Maya Jouravel

 

Translation © 1994 by Maya Jouravel


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Here is this happiness — witless —
White windowpanes to the lawn.
Sundown peacefully bathes —
Red — in the pond — like a swan.
 
Greetings to you, golden stillness,
Shadows of birch in a tarn.
Over the roof, flock of jackdaws
Tends vespers up to the stars.
 
Coyly, somewhere by the garden
Right where the guelder-rose blooms,
Delicate girl in a white gown —
Singing her delicate tunes.
 
Blue-grayish mist from the pastures —
Little night cold slowly creeps.
Happiness — witless and precious —
Innocent rose of your cheeks.
 
Âîò îíî, ãëóïîå ñ÷àñòüå,
Ñ áåëûìè îêíàìè â ñàä.
Ïî ïðóäó ëåáåäåì êðàñíûì
Ïëàâàåò òèõî çàêàò.
 
Çäðàâñòâóé, çëàòîå çàòèøüå,
Ñ òåíüþ áåðåçû â âîäå,
Ãàëî÷üÿ ñòàÿ íà êðûøå
Ñëóæèò âå÷åðíþ çâåçäå.
 
Ãäå-òî çà ñàäîì íåñìåëî,
Òàì, ãäå êàëèíà öâåòåò
Íåæíàÿ äåâóøêà â áåëîì
Íåæíóþ ïåñíþ ïîåò.
 
Ñòåëåòñÿ ñèçîþ äûìêîé
Ñ ïîëÿ íî÷íîé õîëîäîê
Ãëóïîå, ìèëîå ñ÷àñòüå,
Ñâåæàÿ ðîçîâîñòü ùåê.