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Larisa Rimerman's avatar

Catherine, hi! I am honored that you found my writing so interesting to

restack it. But what part of the essays, about Esenin or Blok? I would love, if you leave your comment, when you read me. I hope, it’s not so much touble for you. Thank you. Larisa

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Sh's avatar

Thank you for introducing me to Blok.

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Larisa Rimerman's avatar

I lost my thanks to you. I am not good with this techniques. I am happy when someone I met loves Russian poetry.So, thank you for reading and liking.

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Larisa Rimerman's avatar

Thank you very much for your answer to my call to translate Blok. You kept the poem rhymed (you have a talent!), but you are right, your translation is not tragic, as Blok intended. Some of his poems have the elements of ecstasy, like: О, весна без конца и без краю- Без конца и без краю мечта! Not this one. It's about a tragic incident: loss of ships at R.-J. war. Her song is a pray to god, to the icon in the parish. Anyway, Костя, would you translate На Железной Дороге or something else, you like? I love lightness of your translations and thank you.

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Konstantin Asimonov's avatar

Thank you Larisa. I'll give it a try, but it won't be soon, because I am travelling.

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Larisa Rimerman's avatar

I am so glad for you! Travelling- forgotten past. I will need your help only in December.

Happy travelling!

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Konstantin Asimonov's avatar

Thanks!

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Konstantin Asimonov's avatar

A quick and dirty translation, which probably sounds more like a song, than the poet intended:

The girl was singing in temple choir

Of all the ships went out to sea,

Of all the ones who’s far away tired,

Of all who forgot their ecstasy.

-

Her voice was ringing, up high was flinging,

A beam was gleaming, her shoulder white.

And all of us saw and heard this singing,

Her white dress shining, the beam so bright.

-

And all of us thought, it will be joyous,

And all the ships in backwaters calm,

And all the sailors will soon rejoin us,

Or stay, and bright life is soon to come.

-

The beam was slender, her voice was mild,

And further up, underneath the dome,

Next to the royal doors, cried a child—

He knew that no one was coming home.

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Portia's avatar

For a quick and dirty effort, the result is really good, Konstantin, well done!

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Konstantin Asimonov's avatar

Thanks!

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Portia's avatar

Blok is up there with Pushkin, but how differently they experienced love for women! You showed us a complex man, Larisa, and your love for his poetry shines through. And many thanks for the shout-out!

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Larisa Rimerman's avatar

Thank you, Portia, I wrote it only because of your Substak's Post with Blok's poem. But what is"shout-out"?

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Portia's avatar

Hi Larisa, here's the definition of "shout-out", according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary: noun, informal – "a public expression of greeting, praise, or acknowledgement directed toward a person or group often as part of a performance, recording, or broadcast."

You mentioned me in your article, that's a shout-out.

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Larisa Rimerman's avatar

Somehow, I couldn't understand, how my respectful thanks to you go together with the bazaar shout-outs. Sorry, I am a very old- fashioned woman, don't understand modern language.

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Portia's avatar

I appreciated it a lot, Larisa, you are so generous. I'm looking forward to reading more about Russian poetry, there are so many great writers.

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Larisa Rimerman's avatar

Portia, I am so glad , we talked about our different understanding of foreign language for us. Of course, your English is much freer than mine. I told you before, I never studied English officially, it all came from reading. Thank you. I am working on Blok, right now, reading his letters...

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Chen Rafaeli's avatar

Fascinating. Thank you. Thank you.

(I forgot many poems I used to know by heart, I still remember though "Девушка пела в церковном хоре..." )

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