🚀 go-pugleaf

Ilya Shambat wrote:
>
> O what a ball! Intensity of movement, nerves and sound!
> The hearts were beating in three beats and not in twain.
> And ladies were inviting gentlemen
> To a traditional white waltz - and took the breath away.

> And you, that dance with sorrow together,
> Decided to invite that one girl long ago -
> But you must always leave to go somewhere -
> To help somebody or to ready for a war.

> And all, still closer, the more real it becomes,
> She, one with whom you had intended to come in,
> She comes in order to invite you to the waltz -
> And in your temple blood was pounding.

> Externally calm in a ball full of noise,
> You're given away by the shadow of yours -
> She tore, and broke, and trembled in blurry light, as you spun.
> Held gently by the hand, and whirling her like mad,
> And you could have put her across a knife's blade
> So why do you stand, crossing arms, not your own and no one's?

> It was white waltz - the end to doubts of unbelievers
> An end of childhood consolations, dreams and games -
> Today the ladies were inviting cavaliers
> And not because the latter weren't brave.

> The ladies are called forth in time of ball
> And waltz spins heads around, like long before.
> But we must always answer someone's call -
> To help somebody or get ready for a war.

> Whiter than snow is the white waltz, spin now, strive!
> That snow does not get interrupted as it falls!
> She came in order to invite you to a life -
> And you were white - whiter than walls, whiter than waltz!

> Wherever you were - in the lyceum, in the tavern -
> In palace halls, in school - whatever luck despite -
> In Russia ladies were inviting gentlemen
> In every age to the white waltz, and all was white.

> Dulling the sight, not looking to each side,
> Through the despair, silence, quiet, resignation,
> The women hurried to come to our aid -
> Their hall - the size of the entire nation.

> Where you will go, wherever you will fly
> Recall the waltz - how you were white - and smile, you'll learn:
> They'll wait forever - and from sea and from the sky -
> They will invite you to white waltz when you return.

> By Vladimir Vysotsky
> Translated from Russian by Ilya Shambat

Quite excellent, Vladimir Vysotsky was one master of a poet...!