Молчи, скрывайся и таи
И чувства и мечты свои -
Пускай в душевной глубине
Встают и заходят оне
Безмолвно, как звезды в ночи,-
Любуйся ими - и молчи.
Как сердцу высказать себя?
Другому как понять тебя?
Поймет ли он, чем ты живешь?
Мысль изреченная есть ложь;
Взрывая, возмутишь ключи,-
Питайся ими - и молчи.
Лишь жить в себе самом умей -
Есть целый мир в душе твоей
Таинственно-волшебных дум;
Их оглушит наружный шум,
Дневные разгонят лучи,-
Внимай их пенью - и молчи!..
1830
Speak not, lie hidden, and conceal
the way you dream, the things you feel.
Deep in your spirit let them rise
akin to stars in crystal skies
that set before the night is blurred:
delight in them and speak no word.
How can a heart expression find?
How should another know your mind?
Will he discern what quickens you?
A thought once uttered is untrue.
Dimmed is the fountainhead when stirred:
drink at the source and speak no word.
Live in your inner self alone
within your soul a world has grown,
the magic of veiled thoughts that might
be blinded by the outer light,
drowned in the noise of day, unheard...
take in their song and speak no word.
(i came across this poem inside a book from the libary. the book was causes for war by blaney- for my conflict/peace class. i wonder whose bookmark was this poem. i can't read the russian but the script is so captivating. nabokov the translator intrigues me a great deal- i have read his book on gogol and invitation to a beheading. his lolita is the subject of nafisi's book. maybe i will read it next. i know he wrote poems as well, but have never come across them. send me one if you have any favorites. his butterflies are on exhibit in new york and part of the exhibit is online. finding stuff in old books or library books is always exciting, like someone left a message just for me, but usually it is old envelopes or random pieces of paper.)
