How reciting poetry in Russian can cause a blackout
There are poets who wrote about everything, reading them feels like they're prophets, who knew, that one day you'll need to hear exactly these words of encouragement, or to be relaxed revelling in the beauty of nature, or a piece of advice related to friendship or just a good laugh. They're like invisible friends, who are always here by your side.
One of these poets for me is Evgeny Evtushenko, who recently died, but continues to live in numerous poems of his and voices of people from various corners of Russia. Mine is one of those voices, that would like you to hear the melody of Evtushenko's write and receive a boost in energy levels thanks to one of my favourite poems of his called "The Wings"
The Wings (translated by Alik Vagapov)
Ignoring mother's prudent urges which lured with its blue spring colour It seemed that no such power was there, They flew up straight into the air, Shaking off doubts, all of a sudden, Крылья Наказов матери не слыша, Оно звало весенней синью, Казалось, этой силы нету, Была дорога их прямая И вдруг, сомнения осилив, Inspired by Poetry Class of Steem Schools on Discord, join us here
above the city noise, on high,
the little bird approached the edge of
the house roof amidst the sky
and booming winds that blew so high,
but where can one find magic power
to lift oneself into the sky?
but now and then it came in view
of little fledglings that would dare
jump off the roofs into the blue.
up to the sun across the sky,
while it sat by, still unaware
that it had also wings to fly.
courageous, daring it grew,
of force of wings so far uncertain,
believing in them, - up it flew.
1952
над пестрым гулом городским
стоял птенец у края крыши,
и было небо перед ним.
ветрами гулкими трубя,
но где найти такую силу
чтобы в него поднять себя?
но видел он, как наяву
его сородичи по небу
с домов ныряли в синеву.
уже у солнца самого,
а он стоял, не понимая,
что крылья есть и у него.
до неожиданности смел,
еще не зная силы крыльев,
он в них поверил - и взлетел.
1952
Beautifully read Katya, and well recovered after the light fixture so rudely interrupted, haha. A very invigorating poem to be sure, full of courage. An important lesson too, that so often the 'power' we are searching for exists within us already. Thanks for sharing it :)
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Lazarus! And for a new word "invigorating", haha, had to look it up) it's always like this!
You know, thoughts on Evtushenko in Russia are quite polar, there are ones who love him and others, who think that he betrayed his country for in 1991 he moved to US, when USSR stopped existing and the living conditions were difficult. Many people called him weak... But how can we judge?...