The Seeking Ship
A solitary sail of contrasting
White in a salty sea of blue.
From its own land, to disconnect,
Why seek a land that's new?
In a friendly sea where the mast bends
From soothing winds it takes heart.
However; it seeks not happiness
Nor from happiness does it depart.
The sea glistens much brighter
Than the warm sun filled sky,
Yet rebellious, it seeks a storm,
As if to find peace within its eye.
Translation by Connie Marcum Wong
Note: A melancholic soul often feels more at home
surrounded by chaos when one has been raised in
constant chaos on the edge.
**************************************
Original poem
The Sail
By Mikhail Lermontov
This site would not print in Russian text.
?????? ????? ????????
? ?????? ???? ???????. —
???´ ???? ?? ? ?????? ????????
???´ ????? ?? ? ???? ???????
?????? ?????, ????? ??????,
? ????? ?????? ? ???????;
???! — ?? ??????? ?? ????
? ?? ?? ??????? ?????! —
??? ??? ????? ??????? ??????,
??? ??? ??? ?????? ???????: —
? ??, ????????, ?????? ????,
??? ????? ? ????? ???? ?????!
Literal translation
A lonely sail shows white / against the sea's blue mist. / What does it seek in a distant region? / What has it abandoned in its own land?
The waves play, the wind whistles, / and the mast bends and screeches… / Alas, it does not seek happiness / and is not running away from happiness.
Beneath it the current is brighter than the azure, / above it is the sun's golden ray… / But it, rebellious, asks for a storm, / as if there were peace in storms.
(Literal tr. Donald Rayfield, with Jeremy Hicks, Olga Makarova and Anna Pilkington)
Post Comments
Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.
Please
Login
to post a comment