Mama never forgets her birds, by Emily Dickinson

Ввек маме не забыть птенцов,
хоть и в иных ветвях...
Всё столь же часто взглянет,
столь ласки же в глазах,
когда вила земной уют
что ею был храним...
Кто бы из птах её ни сник —
внимает, с высей, им.



[David Preest:
Emily’s condolence letters after the death
of a loved one show her power of love and
her skill in writing at their highest. We no
longer have the letter written to her little
cousins when their mother, Emily’s aunt Lavinia,
died, but it may have accompanied
this poem in which ‘Mama’ is aunt Lavinia,
the favourite sister of Emily’s own mother.
However Vinnie, Emily’s sister, happened
to be staying with the family when the
death occurred, and we do have the letter
which Emily sent to Vinnie about their
aunt’s death. It begins, ‘I can’t believe it,
when your letters come, saying what Aunt
Lavinia said “just before she died.”
Blessed Aunt Lavinia now; all the world
goes out, and I see nothing but her room,
and angels bearing her into those great countries
in the blue sky of which we don’t know anything.’
And it ends, ‘Well, she is safer now
than “we know or even think.” Tired little
aunt, sleeping ever so peaceful! Tuneful
little aunt, singing, as we trust, hymns
than which the robins have no sweeter ones.
Good-night, broken hearts, Loo and Fanny,
and Uncle Loring.
Vinnie, remember Sister (L217).’]

******************************************
Mama never forgets her birds, by Emily Dickinson

Mama never forgets her birds,       
Though in another tree --            
She looks down just as often         
And just as tenderly               
As when her little mortal nest      
With cunning care she wove --
If either of her "sparrows fall",   
She "notices," above.