The flurries blow, snow white and thick,
too much to handle.
A table with a candlestick,
a burning candle.
Just as the summer's gnats to flame,
drawn to the fire.
The snowflakes love the window frame
they so admire.
The blizzard sculpts in bas-relief,
the glass its mantle.
А flame that's waving like a leaf,
a burning candle.
The ceiling lit as shadows play
and grip, engrossing.
Crossed arms and legs into the fray
as fates are crossing.
Two slippers soon abandon fear
and fall to pieces.
The candle sheds a waxy tear,
the dress releases.
All reason lost in snowy dusk,
grey and mishandled.
A candle burning, waxy musk,
a burning candle.
The drafty corner does its part
to blow and capture
the candle's flame into their heart,
an angel's rapture.
The whole of February, snow,
ain't that a scandal.
The candle burned, it ought to know,
a burning candle
*********************************** *******************************
The blizzard pastes the earth with snow,
and blowing, blowing.
A candlestick gives off a glow,
a candle glowing.
Just as the summer's gnats to flame,
drawn to the fire.
The snowflakes love the window frame
they so admire.
The snowflakes sculpt in bas-relief,
with crystal drawing.
А flame that's waving like a leaf,
a candle glowing.
The ceiling lit as shadows play
and grip, engrossing.
Crossed arms and legs into the fray
as fates are crossing.
Two slippers soon abandon fear
and fall to pieces.
The candle sheds a waxy tear,
the dress releases.
All reason lost in snowy dusk,
its grey is showing.
A candle burning, waxy musk,
a candle glowing.
The drafty corner does its part
to blow and capture
the candle's flame into their heart,
an angel's rapture.
The whole of February, snow,
persists, ongoing.
A candlestick gives off a glow,
a candle glowing.
Author notes: This is perhaps the most famous "candle" poem in Russian, The Candle Was Burning, by Pasternak, from Dr. Zhivago One of the most difficult translations I've ever done, given how alliterative the original Russian is, and the short phrases, so it's perhaps looser than I would like. But here are two slightly different attempts nonetheless, matching the meter and rhyme scheme. Мело, мело по всей земле Во все пределы. Свеча горела на столе, Свеча горела. Как летом роем мошкара Летит на пламя, Слетались хлопья со двора К оконной раме. Метель лепила на стекле Кружки и стрелы. Свеча горела на столе, Свеча горела. На озаренный потолок Ложились тени, Скрещенья рук, скрещенья ног, Судьбы скрещенья. И падали два башмачка Со стуком на пол. И воск слезами с ночника На платье капал. И все терялось в снежной мгле Седой и белой. Свеча горела на столе, Свеча горела. На свечку дуло из угла, И жар соблазна Вздымал, как ангел, два крыла Крестообразно. Мело весь месяц в феврале, И то и дело Свеча горела на столе, Свеча горела.
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