Oh, my retiring hero (перевод стихотворения Бэллы Ахмадулиной "О, мой застенчивый герой")
Oh, my retiring hero,
You deftly dodged from blot.
How long I’ve been in mirror
Without a pard’s support!
To your infernal aid
I never had appealed.
Among the scenes, in gloomy shade
You saved, dissolved in field.
But in this shame, in raving crimes
I went before the cruel people –
All out of spite, all in the minds,
All it this role, the role of eagle.
Oh, how you sniggered, my parterre!
You don’t forgive me shameless ease
Of my mistakes, my endless slaughter
And my innocent smile with peace.
Your herds deliriously walked
To get drunk of my cruel dolor.
I’m all alone, all people crooked,
I stand with atlas slid off shoulder.
But reckless crowd doesn’t see
Veracious hero, real hero.
My hero, fear you climbed a tree!
Don’t worry, I won’t broach your mirror.
All our role – my only role.
I lost it badly. Rigid touch.
All our dole – my only dole.
But how much pain. How much. Too much.
