Иосиф Бродский. Из книги эссе. Переводы с английского -
100 >
"I can repeat the very words you were saying:
Three foggy mornings and one rainy day
Will rot the best birch fence a man can build.
Think of it, talk like that at such a time!
What had how long it takes a birch to rot
To do with what was in the darkened parlor?
You [couldn't] care! The nearest friends can go
With anyone to death, comes so far short
They might as well not try to go at all
No, from the time when one is sick to death,
One is alone, and he dies more alone.
Friends make pretense of following to the grave,
But before one is in it, their minds are turned
And making the best of their way back to life
And living people, and things they understand.
But the world's evil. I won't have grief so
If I can change it. Oh, I won't. I won't!"
"There, you have said it all and you feel better.
You won't go now. You're crying. Close the door.
The heart's gone out of it: why keep it up?
Amy! There's someone coming down the road!"
"[You] -- oh, you think the talk is all. I must go --
Somewhere out of this house. How can I make you --"
"If -- you -- do!" She was opening the door wider.
"Where do you mean to go? First tell me that.
I'll follow and bring you back by force. I [will]! --"
Домашние похороны
Он снизу лестницы ее увидел --
Она из двери вышла наверху
И оглянулась, точно бы на призрак.
Спустилась на ступеньку вниз, вернулась
И оглянулась снова. Он спросил:
-- На что ты там все время смотришь, а?
Она его увидела, поникла,
И страх сменился на лице тоской.
Он двинулся наверх: -- На что ты смотришь? --
Она в комок сжималась перед ним.
-- Что там, родная? Дай я сам взгляну. --
Она его как будто не слыхала.