Marina Tsvetaeva
(1892-1941)
Красною кистью
Рябина зажглась.
Падали листья.
Я родилась.
Спорили сотни
Колоколов.
День был субботний:
Иоанн Богослов.
Мне и доныне
Хочется грызть
Жаркой рябины
Горькую кисть.
1916
d
Literal Translation
In a burst of red cluster
The rowan tree flamed.
Leaves fell.
I was born.
Hundreds of bells
Engaged in polemics.
It was the sabbath day:
Holiday of St. John the Theologian.
Even to the present day
I feel like gnawing
A bitter cluster
Of hot rowanberry.
d
Literary
Translation/Adaptation by U.R. Bowie
Birthday
Red berries in clusters
Blazed high on the rowan.
Leaves fell, spinning lustre.
I was born. Set off going.
The day was the sabbath,
St. John’s Revelation.
Church bells disputatious
Rang out o’er the nation.
E’en to this day
I keep yearning to gnaw
Hot rowan clusters
Of red berries raw.
