You're ringed by fire. Its flashes
delight me too. I am not frightened,
beneath your tender eye-lashes,
of summer lightning.
But I am frightened of high places
where I cannot keep my footing.
How can I hold close what your soul
imparts to me of its beauty?
I fear a look without kindness
may fall on my dulled image -
and I shall be left standing
extinguished and singed.
by Афанасий Афанасьевич Фет (Afanasy Afanasyevich Fet)
a.k.a. Шеншин (Shenshin)
(1886)
translated by Robert Chandler
Tag: Фет
Теперь (Here) by Afanasy Fet
Forgotten, cold, my dust will fall asleep
while you are entering your life's sweet May.
One moment then, with magnanimity,
read through these versesthat once came to me.
And with a maiden's keen and thoughtful heart
you'll understand my words' wild ecstasy,
and why it was I often left the world
for trembling song, and you will follow me.
Through salutations springing from the grave
the heart's eternal truth will be revealed.
We two shall breathe a life outside of time;
and we shall meet – here – as you read.
by Афанасий Афанасьевич Фет
(Afanasy Afanasyevich Fet)
a.k.a. Шеншин (Shenshin)
(1883)
translated by Robert Chandler
Beneath is the original Russian Cyrillic version:
Мой прах уснет забытый и холодный,
А для тебя настанет жизни май;
О, хоть на миг душою благородной
Тогда стихам, звучавшим мне, внимай!
И вдумчивым и чутким сердцем девы
Безумных снов волненья ты поймёшь
И от чего в дрожащие напевы
Я уходил - и ты за мной уйдёшь.
Приветами, встающими из гроба,
Сердечных тайн бессмертье ты проверь.
Вневременной повеем жизнью оба,
И ты и я - мы встретимся - теперь!
Beneath is a recital of the Russian version of the poem set to music:
Additional information: [Теперь : verb: Now, Nowadays, Today]. I don’t know why Chandler chose to translate the title as ‘Here‘ save as a possible cultural equivilant for English speakers to understand a Russian nuance of the word Теперь implying ‘here, right now, in the present’. It’s also possible he wanted to ensure his translation would be distinctly titled, for ease of reference, from the work of others translating the same source material.
‘Loving, I am still dumbfounded’ by Afanasy Fet
Loving, I am still dumbfounded
by the world and its beauty,
and nothing will make me renounce
the sweetness you grant me.
However hard my breath come,
while I stand here on earth
the sound of new life will be welcome
wherever it stirs.
Submissive to the sun’s rays,
roots go down into the grave
to seek from death the strength
to meet spring days.
by Афанасий Афанасьевич Фет (Afanasy Afanasyevich Fet)
a.k.a. Шеншин (Shenshin)
(1890)
translated by Robert Chandler
‘Not A Word Will I Utter…’ by Afanasy Fet
Not a word will I utter
of what I keep muttering to myself –
not for anything in the world.
Night flowers sleep all summer’s day
but leaves wake as sun sets behind a corpse –
and my heart starts to blossom.
And into my tired breast wafts a moist
breath of evening. Something flutters, is stirred.
But no, not a word.
by Афанасий Афанасьевич Фет (Afanasy Afanasyevich Fet)
a.k.a. Шеншин (Shenshin)
(1885)
translated by Robert Chandler
‘Look, Outside My Window The Vine Is Spreading So Fast…’ by Afanasy Fet
Look, outside my window the vine is spreading so fast it
almost blocks out the light. Dark, picturesque green now
covers up half of the panes. And amidst the foliage a bunch of
seemingly carefully-placed grapes has started to turn
yellow… Hands off, sweetest! Why this rage for destruction?
If one plump little white hand should be seen to steal
into the yard for a bunch of grapes, the neighbours will waste no
time in declaring: she must have been in his room.
by Афанасий Афанасьевич Фет (Afanasy Afanasyevich Fet)
a.k.a. Шеншин (Shenshin)
(1847)
translated by Robert Chandler
Шепот, робкое дыханье (Whispers) by Afanasy Fet
Whispers, timid breathing,
trills of a nightingale,
the silver and the shiver
of a sleepy rill.
Pale light and nighttime shadows,
shadows without end,
all the magic transformations
of eyes and lips and brows.
In smoky clouds, a rose’s purple,
the shine of amber beads,
and the kisses, and the tears,
and the dawn, the dawn!
by Афанасий Афанасьевич Фет (Afanasy Afanasyevich Fet)
a.k.a. Шеншин (Shenshin)
(1850)
translated by Boris Dralyuk
Воздушный город (The Aerial City) by Afanasy Fet a.k.a. Shenshin
At daybreak there spread through the heavens
Pale clouds like a turreted town:
The cupolas golden, fantastic,
White roofs and white walls shining down.
This citadel is my white city,
My city familiar and dear,
Above the dark earth as it slumbers,
Upon the pink sky builded clear.
And all that aerial city
Sails northward, sails softly, sails high;
And there on the height, some one beckons,—
But proffers no pinions to fly.
by Афанасий Афанасьевич Фет (Afanasy Afanasyevich Fet)
a.k.a. Шеншин (Shenshin)
(1846)
translated by ???
Fun fact: A more straight forward English translation of the poem compared to the Scottish version posted previously Воздушный город (The Aerial City) by Afanasy Fet