Журавли - из А. Вертинского

Translated by Zinovy Korovin

THE CRANES

I got from the strange sky
the deep, magic impression:
heard forgotten short cry
of cranes lined up in truth;
saw on wonderful high
birds performed the migration,
and I flinched when my eyes
met with birds of my youth.

They are closer – I’m glad,
but I’m also crying…
Tell me, cranes, whom you met
at my distant birth’s place.
Tell me when, over head
of my love, were you flying.
Tell me that and don’t let
me sob more, dear cranes!

I would rush to the gleam
to fly fast as a white crane,
I would fly in a stream
to my darling again!
I would kiss her and beam,
hug with passion just like then…
It’s a dream, only dream
that leaves nothing but pain.

  May 16, 2008 – April 8, 2015


Александр Вертинский

ЖУРАВЛИ
(в сокращении)

Здесь, под небом чужим,
Я, как гость нежеланный,
Слышу крик журавлей,
Улетающих вдаль...
Сердце бьётся сильней,
Вижу птиц караваны,
В дорогие края
Провожаю их я.

Вот всё ближе они,
А я громко рыдаю.
Ах, какую же весть
Они мне принесли?
Из какого же вы,
Из далёкого края
Прилетели сюда
На ночлег журавли?

Как хотелось бы мне
Журавлём обратиться
И вернуться опять
В дорогие края!
Целовать бы тебя,
Дорогую голубку...
Ах, как больно душе
Без любви, без тебя!


VOID BELOW:

Translated by Zinovy Korovin

THE CRANES


I got from the strange sky
a significant message:
I just heard a short cry
of cranes flying afar.
My heart beats more as I
see on high birds of passage,
as I follow by eyes
those birds of my star.

They are closer – I’m glad,
but I’m also crying…
Tell me, cranes, whom you met
in my far native lands?
Tell me when, over head
of my love, were you flying?
Tell me that and don’t let
me more sob, dear cranes!

I would like, in the gleam,
to fly high like a white crane,
and I would swiftly stream
for my home again!
I would kiss you and beam,
beam in the bliss just like then…
It’s a dream, only dream
that leaves nothing but pain.

May 16, 2008