Speaking In Tongues
Scribbling In Voices

Marina Tsvetaeva

Translated by Andrey Kneller





* * *



Stolen away and there inspired
While seeing dreams during the day,
All saw me sleeping, so they say,
But no one said that I looked tired


Due to the fact that in the day
The dreams were floating in my sight
I can't sleep now; awake I stay
And like a lonesome shadow sway
Over my sleeping friends at night



* * *


Cut open my veins: irrevocably,
Irreplaceably life is gushing.
Bring forth the basins and bowls!
Any bawl will prove too shoal
Any basin — shallow.
              Filling up and overly
Onto the earth, rushes purging.
Inconceivably, irrevocably.
Irreplaceably -- verse is surging.