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Article #829148

Re: White Waltz

#829148
From: will.dockery@gma
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 2022 15:06
63 lines
2754 bytes
Victor H. wrote:

> 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...!

And thanks to Ilya for bringing his poetry to American readers with his translations.

🙂

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