Babij Yar

Vergossene Tränen, verloren,
versickert in der Vergangenheit
wie Frühlingsschnee
im September

Kein Grab, kein Stein,
für die Erinnerung,
ausgelöscht die Namen, 
unvergessen das Leid

Die Birken im Wäldchen
verschlucken sich an dem Licht,
nur die Blätter verdecken die Sonne
mit traurigen Augen

Angst verbreitet sich stumm,
der Abgrund wirkt endlos
am Rand der Grube,
nur stumpfe Augen, nur lautlos die Münder

Die Schüsse verklingen im Tag,
erbarmungslos, das höhnische Gelächter,
aus grauen Uniformen ohne Gesicht.
Kein Vogelgesang, kein Rauschen im Wald

--------------------------------------------------

Poured tears, lost,
deep into the past
like spring snow
in September


No grave, no stone,
for remembrance,
extinguished the names
unforgotten the grief



The birches in the grove
choked by the light,
only the leaves cover the sun
with sad eyes


Fear spreads in silence,
the abyss seems endless
on the edge of the pit,
only dull eyes, only silently  mouths



The shots die away in the day,
mercilessly, the disdainful laughter,
from gray uniforms without face.
No bird's song, no rushing in the woods

--------------------------------------------------

Lágrimas derrarmardas, perdidas,
resumarn en el pasado 
como la nieve de primavera 
en septiembre 


Ninguna tumba, ni una piedra, 
por el recordatorio, 
borrado los nombres, 
inolvidado el sufrimiento 


Los abedules en el bosquito
se tragaran en la luz
sólo las hojas tapan el sol 
con sus ojos tristes 



El miedo está extendiendo en silencio, 
el abismo se ve infinito
al borde del pozo, 
sólo ojos apagados, silencioso las bocas



Los disparos se desvanecen en el día, 
sin descanso, la risa burlona de los uniformes grises sin rostro.
No hay canto de pájaros, 
ni susurrar en el bosque 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In 1941, Babij Yar near the Russian town of  Kiev was the year of death of over seventy
thousand Jews, murdered by the Nazi unit of the SS.
Jevgeni Jevtushenko, the great Russian poet's  poem Babij Yar was published in the
"Literaturnaja Gazeta" in 1961.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2010



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Date: 10/4/2010 1:14:00 PM
This is just heartbreaking Gert-- how did I miss this? You've managed to inform your readers about it and also tug at heartstrings--I can't help but feel sad as I read this--- is this a translation of that poem? thanks for sharing --thank you again for all your wonderful comments :)
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Date: 10/3/2010 10:37:00 AM
Sad write Gert, you did it brilliantly once again highlighting the atrocities committed which some of us have forgotten or didn't know about. Thanks for digging into history and bring this gem to the fore. Enjoy the week ahead and thank you for taking the time to comment on my writes ;)
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Date: 10/1/2010 11:34:00 PM
thanks for letting me know. I asked because the title was the same . Your is awesome!
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Date: 10/1/2010 11:08:00 AM
Oh, so is this your English translation of a famous poem then? It is full of sadness. Luv, Andrea
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Date: 9/25/2010 5:53:00 PM
Gruesome event Gert but u have penned in words brilliantly my friend and a sad time in history.. long before my birth however history is always information necessary to know to avoid pitfalls in the future... my friend this is a special piece..luv.. enjoyed your emotional write tonight..ciao..luv..
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Date: 9/25/2010 3:06:00 PM
very nice enjoyed it tou were always great at this keep it up I haven't been on so much I have to catch up on some of your work good job and enjoy your weekend faleshia
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Date: 9/25/2010 2:12:00 PM
Great work that is a reminder of those horrible deeds done so long ago but will never be forgotten...I am glad that I chose this one to read today...Sara
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Date: 9/24/2010 7:21:00 PM
A very poignant piece of work, Gert. I was inspired by a documentary a couple of weeks ago, and wrote, "The World Watched Petrified". It's so unbelievable..yet it's reality. Hope you've been well... Peace, Audrey
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Date: 9/24/2010 6:44:00 PM
so sad...how many were killed all together? do you know?
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Date: 9/24/2010 5:03:00 PM
wow!, this write leaves me speechless, your writting is really very insightful...P.D.
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Date: 9/24/2010 4:52:00 PM
What a powerful poem, filled with deep emotion, Gert! Is this your own rewrite of Jevtushenko's poem, or his original? This is such a sad time in history, Gert, and I have always felt a special sting because of my German ancestry. Love, Carolyn
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