St. Petersburg

Discussion in 'Creative Corner' started by ibshambat, Sep 16, 2020.

  1. ibshambat

    ibshambat Banned

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    Above the federal buildings' yellow gown
    A hazy flurry circles far and wide
    Within the sled the coachman sits down
    And with broad gesture hides his coat inside.

    Ships fall asleep. And in the evening, rocking,
    Thick cabin windows fill to brim with light.
    And monstrously -- just like a fortress docking --
    Russia is breathing heavily at night.

    On the Nieva stand hundred embassies;
    Admiralty, the sun, and silence glare.
    The state's tight porphyry upon us sits,
    Poor like an uncouth bodice made of hair.

    Hard is the journey of the Northern snob -
    Eugene Onegin's well-cliche'ed despair;
    On Senate square are mounds of fallen snow
    A bonfire's smoke, and chill of steel made bare.

    The ducks are sipping water, and the gulls
    In waving folds of sea are gently lurking
    Where, selling lumps of beef or tender rolls,
    Like opera singers peasant men are walking.

    Into the fog a row of birds is flying:
    Self-loving, modest march can't wait.
    That goof Onegin, poverty decrying
    Is breathing gasoline and cursing fate.

    By Osip Mandelshtam
    Translated from Russian by Ilya Shambat
     

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