Translation of Poem by Marina Tsvetaeva, "Красною кистью," BIRTHDAY ("Red berries in clusters"), Марина Цветаева

 

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.