blank verse

The Winter Tremble blank verse by Stéphane Mallarmé (1842-1898),  my translation   Always slow, among flowers and deities, the clock striking thirteen. Who previously owned this Saxon clock? Picture them bringing it from Saxony by those old slow stagecoaches. (Weird shadows looming over the old windowpanes.) Who did ever look at oneself in the Venetian … Read more

poem in my translation

The Butterfly by Afanasy Fet (1820-1892)   You’re right. An outline of Air I am so sweet. My velvet with its living blinking– only two wings. Don’t ask me whence, what brought me, where I speed. I light the flower down, here, and now I breathe. How long, so aimless, so effortless, I want to … Read more

Natalia Nikiforova I’m enamoured of you (flouncing soul)

Translated from Russian by Victor Sklyarov (Russian original and her other poems are at www.allthelyrics.com ) I don’t want you to be neither lover, nor friend, nor the kind. Remain sole like the wind got entangled low in dust. And my words will empoison return route you wont find, Our ships having touched sculls at … Read more

BLACK EYES

Translated  from Russian by Victor P. Sklyarow Dark abyss of eyes, oh, what bliss of eyes Penetrating eyes, and frustrating eyes! I’m adoring you, I’m afraid of you, I met your power in an ill hour! Be that hour cursed, I met you for worst Dark abyss of eyes, those wistful eyes! Having not met … Read more

HEY MUSICIAN PLAY

Translated from Russian by Victor Sklyarow Years and milleniums pass No change in our die-cast And in usual routine Flow following at last. Some exhausted, and some lazy, Some about bread are crazy, Over all sounds simple tune. All discepancies erazing Hey, musiciian, play, I’ll be believing, That the better a day will come soon … Read more

OH RUSSIA by Igor Talkov

Translated from Russian by Victor P. Sklyarow I’m ruffling leaves of old notes, The general was executed, I failed to reckon what behold How the country had been sold And let them all to have you looted And from Dark Ages you emerged Like giant to his feet arising Your Petersburg prevented wars By the … Read more

SO DARK THE NIGHT by Mark Bernes

Translated from Russian by Victor P. Sklyarow So dark the night, only bullets do buzz over head, Only wind whizzes weary wires, and the stars glimmer dimly So dark the  night, but my darling won’t go to bed Rocking cradle with baby tonight sudden tear you wipe grimly. How I do love silent depth of … Read more

SUMMER RAIN by Igor Talkov

Translated from Russian by Victor P. Sklyarow Memory has seized stinging Thoughts do not beat on the hands You’re going and I’m seeing You off to the alien lands You are the constant migrant Looking for good luck You came just to say that you went And you fly again. So scud. Summer rain, summer … Read more

The Ponds Called Clear Springs

Translated from Russian by Victor P. Sklyarow Yet each in Universe has hiding place to nurse His heart-ache for a while, to stay in a seclusion Where memories of past will cure all the worst, Will calm down injured heart from previous intrusion. The ponds called Clear Springs, and so shy bowing willows Like the … Read more