January 01, 2009

Chtenia 5: Literal Poem Translations


Holiday Tree

Raissa Kudasheva
Line by line literal translation

Shaggy branches bend
Down to the children's heads;
Rich beads shine
With the play of fire;
One ball hides behind another
And one star --behind another.
Bright strands swing
Like golden rain...
To play, and enjoy themselves
The children have gathered here.
And to you, Beautiful-tree,
They swing their song.
It resounds and expands,
The chorus of children's voices
And, glowing, it sways
The luxurious decoration of the tree.

Song

A spruce tree was born in the forest, in the forest it grew,
In the winter and summer it was tall and graceful and green!
The snowstorm sang songs to her: sleep, Spruce tree lully lay!
The frost wrapped her in snow: be careful lest you freeze.
The coward gray bunny hopped under the Spruce tree.
At times the wolf himself, the angry, wolf galloped by!

More gaily and amicably
     Sing children.
The Tree will more quickly dip
     Its branches.

In it are shining walnuts
     Golden ones.
Who here is not happy to see
     The green Spruce.

Hark! Snow in the dense wood is creaking under runners,
A horse with shaggy legs is hurrying, running,
The horse is hauling wood, on top of the lumber is a peasant man.
He cut down our Spruce tree at the very root...
Now you are here, all dressed up, you have come to us for the holiday.
And you have brought, much, much happiness to the children.

More gaily and amicably
     Sing children.
The Tree will more quickly dip
     Its branches

Pick for yourself
     What you like
Oh, thank you,
Beautiful Spruce Tree!

Translation by Lydia Razran Stone

Subscribe Here

Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices
May 01, 2013

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod is a mid-sized provincial city that exists only in Russian metaphorical space. It has its roots in Gogol, and Ilf and Petrov, and is a place far from Moscow, but close to Russian hearts. It is a place of mystery and normality, of provincial innocence and Black Earth wisdom. Strange, inexplicable things happen in Stargorod. So do good things. And bad things. A lot like life everywhere, one might say. Only with a heavy dose of vodka, longing and mystery.

93 Untranslatable Russian Words
December 01, 2008

93 Untranslatable Russian Words

Every language has concepts, ideas, words and idioms that are nearly impossible to translate into another language. This book looks at nearly 100 such Russian words and offers paths to their understanding and translation by way of examples from literature and everyday life. Difficult to translate words and concepts are introduced with dictionary definitions, then elucidated with citations from literature, speech and prose, helping the student of Russian comprehend the word/concept in context.

Life Stories
September 01, 2009

Life Stories

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.

Murder at the Dacha
July 01, 2013

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.

Fish
February 01, 2010

Fish

This mesmerizing novel from one of Russia’s most important modern authors traces the life journey of a selfless Russian everywoman. In the wake of the Soviet breakup, inexorable forces drag Vera across the breadth of the Russian empire. Facing a relentless onslaught of human and social trials, she swims against the current of life, countering adversity and pain with compassion and hope, in many ways personifying Mother Russia’s torment and resilience amid the Soviet disintegration.

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

Woe From Wit (bilingual)
June 20, 2017

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955