Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Grape seed


my translation of the song by Russian/Georgian bard Bulat Okudzhava (1924-1997), performed by Georgian singer Vahtang Kikabidze

I'll bury grape seed in warm soil,
and kiss the vine, and pull a ripe grape,
and convene the friends, tune my heart to love,
otherwise why live on this eternal earth?

Gather, my friends, on the feast,
tell me straight in the eyes:
who am I in your view?
King of heaven will send me
the pardon for all of my sins,
otherwise why live on this eternal earth?

In the dark red my dali* will sing for me,
in the black and white I'll bow to her.
And be listening, and I'll die of love and sorrow,
otherwise why live on this eternal earth?

And when veil of sunset grows goldish,
let again and again blue buffalo, white eagle
and golden trout in front of me float...
otherwise why live on this eternal earth?

dali* - Goddess of the hunt in the Georgian folklore

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