When waters of a flood that swept the planet Returned once more into the ocean bed From foam of a departing ocean current Love climbed so quietly upon the land And disappeared in air before its time - And for it there are sixteen hundred times. And some strange people - there are some such yet - Inhale this mix with full chest that is heaving Reward and punishment they don't await And thinking that they are only but breathing They do appear to breathe, or so it's seeming, Unevenly, unevenly, at that. Only sense, just like a river boat, For so long, so long remains afloat, For before I know that "I love" - That is, that I breathe, or that I live! And there will be enough wanderings and travels Land of love - such a great land it is! And it will be asking for ordeals From its knights, before they can have bliss. It will ask departures and despair And deprive of calm, of sleep and peace... But you cannot drive off the insane From this land, they do agree to pay Any price - their life if that is called - Just so not to cut, to keep instead The magical invisible thread That is woven in between their souls.... The fresh air intoxicated them, Knocked them from their feet, raised up again, For if I had never ever loved - I'd have never breathed, have never lived! But the many that are choking on their love - You won't reach, however you may shout... Counted by prayer and empty word. But this count has been mixed in blood. And we will place candles at the head Of ones dead from the unknown love. Their voices have to morph in single one Their souls must wander in between the flowers To breathe with the eternity at one To meet each other sighing in some hour Upon the fragile bridges and roads Upon the narrow crossroads of the world... I will lay the fields for those in love, Sleeping or awake, just let them sing! I am breathing - therefore, I love! I'm in love - and therefore, I live! By Vladimir Vysotsky Translated from Russian by Ilya Shambat https://sites.google.com/site/ibshambat (translations of Russian poetry) https://sites.google.com/site/ibshambat/russian-songs (translations of Russian songs)
It's a really beautiful poem, however I believe some of the beauty gets lost in translation, for example If the poet had to write in a different language I think it would have gone slightly differently.... (I'm just having fun so apologise if you don't like the re-write, it's not a translation obviously since I'm not Russian but an alteration of your version) When flood waters swept upon earths shores Return below rough surface once more White foam lie abandoned by the current For love emerges from the torrent To dissipate into the air, immature Sixteen hundred times, again the lure
You put Flowers in your Hair Deep red pedals made dull by your smiling lips No earthy pleasure can compare Nature fades when you glow I forget what I know as time gets slow You put flowers in your hair But I don't see them anymore.
