Translations: The Bestest of the Best, FIFTEEN, Afanasy Fet, "Шёпот, робкое дыханье," WHISPERING AND TIMID BREATHING

 

[Note from U.R. Bowie: I am re-posting what I consider the best of my translations of Russian poetry]

Afanasy Fet
(1820-1892)

 

Шёпот, робкое дыханье,
           Трели соловья,
Серебро и колыханье
           Сонного ручья,

Свет ночной, ночные тени,
           Тени без конца,
Ряд волшебных изменений
           Милого лица,

В дымных тучках пурпур розы,
           Отблеск янтаря,
И лобзания, и слёзы,
           И заря, заря!..

 1850

                                                              Literal Translation
 
Whispering, timid breathing,
                The trills of a nightingale,
The silver and the swaying
                Of a sleepy brook,
 
Nocturnal light, the shadows of night,
                Shadows without end,
A lot of magical changes
                Of a dear face,
 
In the hazy clouds the purple of a rose,
                The reflection of amber,
And kisses, and tears,
                And the dawn, the dawn!

Literary Translation/Imitation by U.R. Bowie

 

Whispering and timid breathing,

Nightingale’s trill,

Silver sheen of waters seething,

Sleepy brooklet’s dishabille.

 

Noctilucence, nocturne shades,

Lengthy shadows without end,

Alternating glow cascades,

Charm to dear face lends,

 

On hazy clouds a rose-pink stain,

In answer amber’s antiphon, 

And kisses, weeping, silent pain,

And then the dawn, the dawn!

 

Date of Translation: January, 2019