Белла Ахмадулина
(1937-2010)
(1937-2010)
Заклинание
Не плачьте обо мне – я проживу
счастливой нищей, доброй каторжанкой,
озябшею на севере южанкой,
чахоточной да злой петербуржанкой
на малярийном юге проживу.
Не плачьте обо мне – я проживу
той хромоножкой, вышедшей на паперть,
тем пьяницей, поникнувшим на скатерть,
и этим, что малюет Божью Матерь,
убогим богомазом проживу.
Не плачьте обо мне – я проживу
той грамоте наученной девчонкой,
которая в грядущести нечёткой
мои стихи, моей рыжея чёлкой,
как дура будет знать. Я проживу.
Не плачьте обо мне – я проживу
сестры помилосердней милосердной,
в военной бесшабашности предсмертной,
да под звездой моею и пресветлой
уж как-нибудь, а всё ж я проживу.
1968
d
Literary
Translation/Adaptation by U.R. Bowie
Incantation
Cry not for me—I’ll
live my way through,
as a mendicant merry, a kindly con too,
a southerner shivering in far north’s purview,
as a nasty tubercular Petersburg shrew
in malarian southlands; I’ll make it through.
as a mendicant merry, a kindly con too,
a southerner shivering in far north’s purview,
as a nasty tubercular Petersburg shrew
in malarian southlands; I’ll make it through.
Cry not for me—I’ll
live my way through,
as a gimp-legged beggar at church entry crouching,
a whoreson dead drunk in a low tavern slouching,
as one who paints Mary in tones Prussian blue,
as a poor icon dauber I’ll make my way through.
as a gimp-legged beggar at church entry crouching,
a whoreson dead drunk in a low tavern slouching,
as one who paints Mary in tones Prussian blue,
as a poor icon dauber I’ll make my way through.
Cry not for me—I’ll
live my way through,
as some literate-loving dumb girlie-girl who
will study my verses and scholarship spew,
will worship my elbow and red bangs askew,
will memorize my stuff; yeah, I’ll make it through.
as some literate-loving dumb girlie-girl who
will study my verses and scholarship spew,
will worship my elbow and red bangs askew,
will memorize my stuff; yeah, I’ll make it through.
Cry not for me, for, oh yeah, I’ll make it through,
as a sister of mercy most kindly, beneficent,
nursing the war wounds of those convalescing and
under my star, in its rays luminescent, and
yes . . . all the same . . . nonetheless, I’ll get through.
as a sister of mercy most kindly, beneficent,
nursing the war wounds of those convalescing and
under my star, in its rays luminescent, and
yes . . . all the same . . . nonetheless, I’ll get through.
