Why is my soul so full of song | Why is my soul so full of song

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by Osip Emil'evich Mandelstam (1891 - 1938)

Translation © by Richard Shaw

Отчего душа так певуча

(Sung text for setting by E. Firsova)

See original

Language: Russian (Русский)

Our translations: ENG

Отчего душа так певуча,
И так мало милых имен,
И мгновенный ритм – только случай,
Неожиданный Аквилон?

Он подымет облако пыли,
Зашумит бумажной листвой
И совсем не вернется – или
Он вернется совсем другой.

 ... 

Я блуждал в игрушечной чаще
И открыл лазоревый грот...
Неужели я настоящий
И действительно смерть придёт?

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-2,4 of the original text.

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Composition:

Elena Olegovna Firsova

Tri stikhotvorenija Osipa Mandel'shtama

Text Authorship:

by Osip Emil'evich Mandelstam (1891 - 1938)

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

ENG English (Richard Shaw) , "Why is my soul so full of song", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this page: Dmitri Smirnov

This text was added to the website: 2008-01-22
Line count: 16
Word count: 67

Why is my soul so full of song

(Sung text translation for setting by E. Firsova)

See original

Language: English after the Russian (Русский)

Why is my soul so full of song,
And why are there so few names dear to me,
And instant rhythm -- is it just an accident,
The unexpected wind of Aquila?

It will stir up a cloud of dust,
Will rustle in the papery foliage
And never return, or else
Return completely changed.

 ...

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-2,4 of the original text.

Text Authorship:

Translation from Russian (Русский) to English copyright © 2008 by Richard Shaw, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Based on:

a text in Russian (Русский) by Osip Emil'evich Mandelstam (1891 - 1938)
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This text was added to the website: 2008-01-22
Line count: 12
Word count: 75