google analytics

Monday, February 15, 2016

Yevgeny Yevtushenko, Colours

When your face came rising
above my crumpled life, 
at first i understood only the poverty of what i have
then its particular light
on woods, on rivers, on the sea, 
became my beginning in the coloured world
in which i had not yet had my beginning.


I’m so frightened,  I’m so frightened 
of the unexpected sunrise finishing, 
of revelations and tears and the excitement finishing.
I don't fight it.My love is this fear.
I nourish it who can nourish nothing, 
love's slipshod watchman.



Fear hems me in. I am conscious
that these minutes are short 
and that the colour in my eyes
will vanish when your face sets.


(in: Joan Baez, "Baptism")
When your face
appeared over my crumpled life
at first I understood
only the poverty of what I have.
Then its particular light
on woods, on rivers, on the sea
became my beginning in the coloured world
in which I had not yet had my beginning.
I am so frightened, I am so frightened,
of the unexpected sunrise finishing,
of revelations
and tears and the excitement finishing.
I don't fight it, my love is this fear,
I nourish it who can nourish nothing,
love's shipshod watchman.
Fear hems me in.
I am conscious that these minutes are short
and the colours in my eyes will vanish
when your face sets.
Yevgeny Yevtushenko
When your face
appeared over my crumpled life
at first I understood
only the poverty of what I have.
Then its particular light
on woods, on rivers, on the sea
became my beginning in the coloured world
in which I had not yet had my beginning.
I am so frightened, I am so frightened,
of the unexpected sunrise finishing,
of revelations
and tears and the excitement finishing.
I don't fight it, my love is this fear,
I nourish it who can nourish nothing,
love's shipshod watchman.
Fear hems me in.
I am conscious that these minutes are short
and the colours in my eyes will vanish
when your face sets.
Yevgeny Yevtushenko

No comments: