Speaking In Tongues
Guided by Voices

Edouard Limonov

From «Kropotkin and Other Poems»

(1967-1968)

Translated by Boris Garbuzov



* * *

Ýòîò äåíü íåâåðîÿòíûé
Áûë äîæäåì ïîêðûò.
Êèðïè÷è â ñàäàõ ðàçìîêëè
Êðàñíîñòåííûõ äîìîâ.


 îêðóæåíèè äåðåâüåâ æèëè â äîìàõ
Ëþäè ìîëîäûå, ñòàðûå è äåòè


 óãîë öåëûé äåíü ãëÿäåëà Êàòÿ.
Áåãàòü áåãàëà, êðè÷àëà,
Âîëîñû âñå ðàñòðåïàëà - Îëÿ.


Êíèãó òàéíóþ ÷èòàë,
Ñ ÷åðäàêà ãëÿäÿ óêðàäêîé ìðà÷íîé - Ôåäîð.


Âîñõèòèòåëüíî ëþáèëà ÷òî-òî íîâîå â ïðèðîäå - Àííà.
(÷òî-òî íîâîå â ïðèðîäå -
Òî ëè ëó÷ ïóñòîãî ñîëíöà
Òî ëè ãëóáü ïóñòîãî ëåñà
Èëè íîâûé âèä öâåòêà.)


Äîæäü ñòó÷àë îäíîðèòìè÷íûé.
 çåðêàëî òåïåðü ãëÿäåëà - Îëÿ.
Êóøàë ÷àé ñ êèòàéñêîé áóëêîé - Ôåäîð.
Çàñûïàÿ, óëåòàëà - Êàòÿ.
 äîæäü ïå÷àëüíî âûõîäèëà - Àííà.

* * *


Whimsical and garish day
Was covered with the rain.
Bricks got sodden in the gardens
Of the red-walled buildings


All surrounded by trees lived in those buildings
People young, old and children


All day looked into the corner Katia.
Ran around, gaily yelled,
Disarrayed her hair - Olia.


Read his covert veiled book
From the attic stealthily and darkly glancing - Fyodor.


Captivatingly adored
Something new in Mother Nature - Anna.
(Something new in Mother Nature --
Either ray of empty sunlight,
Either depth of empty forest
Or a novel kind of plant.)


Rain was knocking mono-rhythmic,
Now looked into the mirror - Olya.
Had his tea with Chinese loaf - Fyodor.
Fell asleep and vanished flying - Katia.
Sadly went into the rain - Anna.