I've been in a pretty big poetry mood lately. I think it stems from being at the Open Air Museum in Tallinn. It was literally just one giant forest with a few old timey looking buildings in it. But the forest was amazing. It was completely the kind of forest in my dreams (and probably even some of my nightmares). It made me want to just sit down and read/write poetry forever. Sometimes I couldn't even contain myself while we were there and I just had to start running down the path. I looked like an idiot (I can guarantee you that), but my friends humored me and didn't make any snide comments to my face. Now back to the point.
Since then I've been spending some time learning a little more about Pushkin, the most famous of all Russian poets. I felt like it would be appropriate. Did you know that he totally revolutionized the Russian style of writing and even somewhat of speaking? No wonder they have a TON of stuff named after him. Oh, and he died when he was in his thirties. I found one poem by him that is perfectly my style. But! I have a love/hate relationship with writing being translated. On one side it's so fun to hear how the works sound in the original language and what it means. Words are so beautiful (dorky/nerdy/cliche statement). On the other hand, a lot is lost in translation (no pop culture references intended).
This is my new favorite poem by Pushkin in both Russian and English. I know that most people won't be able to read the Russian so I'll add a little clippy clip of a song version of it! You're welcome, I know you wanted it. Take your time, read it. Maybe you will like it, maybe not. It is possible that you will like it if you try. My goal is to memorize both the English and Russian versions in the next two months. Hopefully that works out well!
THE SINGER
Did you hear beyond the grove the night voice
Of the singer of love who sings of his sadness?
In the morning, when the fields were silent,
It was the plaintive and simple sound of the pipe.
Did you hear it?
Did you meet in the desolate darkness of the forest
The singer of love who sings of his sadness?
Did you notice a trace of tears or smile,
Or a gentle and mournful glance?
Did you meet him?
Did you sigh to hear the tender voice
Of the singer of love who sings of the sadness?
When you saw the young man in the forest,
And met the look of his mournful eyes,
Did you sigh?
Did you hear beyond the grove the night voice
Of the singer of love who sings of his sadness?
In the morning, when the fields were silent,
It was the plaintive and simple sound of the pipe.
Did you hear it?
Did you meet in the desolate darkness of the forest
The singer of love who sings of his sadness?
Did you notice a trace of tears or smile,
Or a gentle and mournful glance?
Did you meet him?
Did you sigh to hear the tender voice
Of the singer of love who sings of the sadness?
When you saw the young man in the forest,
And met the look of his mournful eyes,
Did you sigh?
Певец
Singer
Слыхали ль вы за рощей глас ночной
Певца любви, певца своей печали?
Когда поля в час утренний молчали,
Свирели звук унылый и простой?
Встречали ль вы в пустынной тьме лесной
Певца любви, певца своей печали?
Следы ли слез, улыбку ль замечали,
Иль тихий взор, исполненный тоской?
Вздохнули ль вы, внимая тихий глас
Певца любви, певца своей печали?
Когда в лесах вы юношу видали,
Встречая взор его потухших глаз?
6 comments:
STICK IT TO THE MAN
You are so cute! And you must be learning Russian really well if you're ready to memorize a whole poem! Way to go!
Nic I love to hear about your stories and the things you are learning, but I must say, I LOVE this post. It is fun to know how YOU are doing. You are awesome!
Love that poem! Can't you see it Nic? It's definitely WORDS, words take you to another place or maybe that's me I'm talking about, we are a lot alike in that way. Keep being a "rebel". I love you tons :)
Love. 1) Thank you for posting the "clippy clip" it totally enriched my experience of your post. 2) I expect to hear you recite the poem to me in Russian, from your heart. 3) I miss you, and decided that we should have poetry nights this summer!
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