Translation of Poem by Fyodor Tyutchev, RAINBOW, Федор Тютчев, "Как неожиданно и ярко"

 

Федор Тютчев

(1803-1873)

 

Как неожиданно и ярко,

На влажной неба синеве,

Воздушная воздвиглась арка

В своем минутном торжестве!

Один конец в леса вонзила,

Другим за облака ушла –

Она полнеба обхватила

И в высоте изнемогла.

 

О, в этом радужном виденье

Какая нега для очей!

Оно дано нам на мгновенье,

Лови его - лови скорей!

Смотри - оно уж побледнело,

Еще минута, две - и что ж?

Ушло, как то уйдет всецело,

Чем ты и дышишь и живешь.

 

5 августа 1865

Ф.И.Тютчев. Полное собрание стихотворений. Ленинград, "Советский писатель", 1957.

 

Literal Translation

How unexpectedly and brightly,

On the moist blueness of the sky,

Has reared up an arch made of air

In its momentary triumph!

One end has pierced the forest,

The other has gone off beyond the clouds—

Half the sky has it encompassed

And has exhausted its efforts on high.

 

O, in that iridescent sight

What bliss there is for the eyes!

It is given to us only for an instant,

Catch it, catch it fast!

Look, it has already grown pale,

One more minute, two, and then what?

It will have gone, just as will be gone absolutely

Everything that you breathe and live by.

 

d

 

Literary Translation/Adaptation by U.R. Bowie

 

Rainbow

Abruptly rearing, gleaming bright

Against the moist blue of the skies,

That arch that’s built of air and light

Triumphant hangs for but a trice.

 

One end has pierced the forest nigh,

The other dissipates in clouds.

All told it clutches half the sky,

Then fades, exhausted, space beshrouds.

 

What bliss there is for watching eyes

In iridescence strung on high.

An instant brief, and then it dies,

So quickly heed its hue and cry.

 

The bow (look there!) has pallid grown,

Just one more minute, maybe two,

It will have scattered, lost, windblown, 

Like all you cherish, love, and rue.