Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
POEMS1
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Innes Merabishvili
me da Rame
exla, roca am striqons vwer, SuaRame iwvis,
dneba,
sio, sarkmliT monaqroli, velTa zRapars
meubneba.
mTvariT nafens aremare ver icilebs vercxlis
sabans,
sio arxevs da atokebs Cems sarkmlis win
iasamans.
ca mtredisfer, lurj svetebiT ise aris
daserili,
ise aris savse grZnobiT, viT riTmebiT es
werili.
saidumlo SuqiT are ise aris Sesudruli,
ise savse uxv grZnobebiT, viT am Rames Cemi
guli.
didi xnidan saidumlos mec Rrmad gulSi
davatareb,
ar vumJRavneb qveynad arvis, niavsac ki ar
vakareb.
ra ician megobrebma, Tu ra naRvels itevs guli,
an ra aris mis siRrmeSi saukunod Senaxuli.
ver momparavs bnel gulis fiqrs wuTi wuTze
uamesi,
saidumlos ver momtacebs qalis xvevna da
alersi;
Nor the sounds in sleep I utter, nor the words, I say, when
drunk,
Can reveal once or betray the secret treasured in my heart.
But the night at sleepless times, penetrating through
skylights,
Knows the story of my life, knows the aches that made me
cry,
What a lonely orphan suffered, all that tortures till I die,
Only two together suffered, the Night and I,
the Night and I.
usiyvarulod
usiyvarulod...
mze ar sufevs cis kamaraze,
sio ar dahqris, tye ar krTeba
sasixarulod...
usiyvarulod ar arsebobs
arc silamaze,
arc ukvdaveba ar arsebobs usiyvarulod.
magram sul sxvaa siyvaruli
ukanaskneli,
rogorc yvavili Semodgomis
xSirad pirvels sjobs,
igi ar uxmobs qariSxlian
umizno vnebebs,
arc ymawvilur Jins, arc velur xmebs
igi ar uxmobs...
da Semodgomis siciveSi
velad gazrdili,
is gazafxulis naz yvavilebs
sulac ara hgavs...
sios magivrad qariSxali
ealerseba
da vnebis nacvlad uxmo alerss
garemoucavs.
da Wkneba, Wkneba siyvaruli
ukanaskneli,
Wkneba mwuxared, nazad, magram
usixarulod.
da ar arsebobs qveyanaze
TviT ukvdaveba,
TviT ukvdaveba ar arsebobs
usiyvarulod!
1914
10
Without Love
Without love
There lives no sun high in the Heavens,
Breeze never blows, woods never quiver
For beloved...
Without love there even exists
No beauty,
No immortality ever lives
Without love.
But the last love is totally
Different,
Like an autumn flower oft better
Than the one,
Thats first and yields to aimless passions,
Youthful whims,
Tireless and fervent, known for wild darts...
In autumnal coldness its grown,
In valleys,
And is never like a spring flower,
Gentle and smart...
Is never caressed by breeze but by
Whirling winds,
Instead of desire by endearment
Voiceless balmed.
And the last love is being withered,
Being withered,
In grief and sorrow, though tender,
But all glum.
No immortality ever lives
In the world,
No immortality ever lives
Without love!
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meris TvalebiT
es ramdenime dRea da ramdenime Rame
daxurulia guli, rogorc sakani rame.
TiTqo umZimes karebs kupris daedo luqi,
gulSi verc zeca atans, verc sixarulis Suqi.
gaudaburda Cemi yofnis yoveli wami,
es ramdenime dRea da ramdenime Rame.
oh, momecaleT, kmara! mxolod sikvdili minda,
arc poezia matkbobs, arc megobroba wminda.
es ramdenime dRea da ramdenime Rame
are-midamos Sxamavs Rrma mwuxarebis Sxami.
Camoiburos zeca, misic aRara mjera
meris TvalebiT igi ver gabrwyindeba, vera!
1914
12
13
wuxeli, RamiT...
wuxeli, RamiT qari dahqroda
da didxans, didxans ar dameZina;
me mqonda bina, TavSesafari,
magram qariSxals ar hqonda bina.
xan karebs ukan atirdeboda,
xan darajobda sarkmelis wina.
gadamiSala Tvalwin warsuli
da mwared, mwared amaqviTina.
misebr poeti viyav ucnobi _
vexetebodi sevdian Rames,
ramden tkbil fiqrebs moeRo bolo,
ramden ocnebas, ramden siames!
wuxeli, RamiT qari dahqroda
da roca diliT gamomeRviZa,
yviTel foTlebs da damsxvreul rtoebs
mimoefaraT yamiri miwa.
baRSi gavedi... iqac bilikze
fenili iyo foToli rbili,
da didxans, didxans vxetialobdi
warsul sizmarSi gadafrenili.
1914
14
Last Night
Last night the wind, the wind whirled hard,
Long, long I could not fall asleep,
I had a home, a roof, a hut,
But never had a home the wind.
Sometimes the wind wept at the door,
Sometimes came closer to the panes,
I also wept, I also sobbed,
It told my past all full of pains.
Alike the wind a poet I was,
Alike the wind no one knew me,
Had gone by then the sweetest thoughts,
Had gone by then my dearest dreams.
Last night the wind, the wind whirled hard,
And when I woke up in the morn,
The yellow leaves and many a branch
Along the barren ground were thrown.
Went to the garden... on the path
Did lie so soft, so calm the leaves,
I wandered lonely and the past
All flew and flew with me in dreams.
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rogorc sizmari
me mivdiodi, me mivdiodi
yvavilTa Soris _ viT niavqari,
me siyvaruli mesizmreboda
da me viyavi _ rogorc sizmari.
me mivdiodi, me movdiodi,
zvirTiviT swrafi, zvirTiviT Cqari.
Cemi ocneba swvavda yvavilebs
da me viyavi dilis ciskari.
magram ocnebam damasneula,
simwriT aivso yvavilT neqtari
da Zirs daeSva frTamomsxvreuli
fiqri nazi da daudevari.
yvavilTa Soris siamis nacvlad
ganadgurebis qanaobs qari,
da mware kvnersad momesmis mxolod
saRamos zari... saRamos zari.
Semodgomaa... baRis bilikebs
mimofenia foToli mWknari...
da me mivdivar, da me movdivar,
da me var ise, rogorc sizmari.
1914
16
As If A Dream
I walked, I walked among the flowers,
I walked as if a waft of air,
I dreamed of love in lovely bowers,
I felt I was a dream, so fair.
I walked, I walked along the bowers
Like billows swift, like billows fast,
My hopes and dreams did burn the flowers,
I felt I was the morning star.
But then that dream did make me ill,
No more my thoughts could reach the clouds,
Nectar of flowers with poison filled.
With broken wings my thoughts flew down.
Among the flowers no pleasure found,
The swinging wind of loss may tell,
As if the moans for me now sound
The chimes of evening, evening bells.
Now it is autumn, garden paths
Are covered all by withered leaves,
I walk, I walk along these paths,
I feel as if I am a dream.
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foTlebi
Wkneba, yviTldeba sabralo baRi,
qari uberavs, foTlebi cviva,
gamourkvevel mwuxarebaSi
mzes suli uwuxs da guli stkiva.
noembris qarma yviTel foTlebiT
kval-bilikebiT gadaiara,
foTlebi swydeba im gatacebas
da Semodgomis mefobs iara.
1914
18
Leaves
The poor garden is sere and yellow,
The wind blows wild, no leaves are left
But withered, and in vague sorrow
The suns heart aches and gasps for breath.
November winds with yellow leaves
Have swept in furrows on their way,
The leaves break off from passion keen,
An open sore in autumn reigns.
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verxvebi
yovelTvis, roca daberavs qari
da nisls mTebisas gaifens afrad,
verxvis foTolTa TeTri laSqari
aSrialdeba uSores zRaprad.
zRapari igi maTrobs da mxiblavs
Zveli Rvinis smiT, uRonod, mZafrad,
sadRac dakargul vards da gvirilebs
mogonebebSi viWer Tanabrad.
es iyo winaT, didi xnis winaT...
sad, rodis, risTvis? ar vici, ara!
iyvnen odesRac da mieZinaT...
Relavs foTlebis mwyobri kamara.
mas Semdeg bedi da ialqani
qaris simZimiT gadaixara,
Sen ki sada xar amdeni xani?
risTvis, an visTan? ar vici, ara!
es iyo winaT, didi xnis winaT,
es iyo verxvis foTlebis kvnesa,
drom yvavilebiT dagvagvirgvina,
me paJi viyav, is ki _ princesa.
1915
22
Aspen Trees2
When from the mounts the cold wind blows,
When mist is spreading like a sail,
An army of white aspen leaves
May rustle as a fairy tale.
This ancient tale, makes thrilled and drunk,
And I am drunk with oldest wines,
In recollections then I grasp
The roses, daisies that were mine.
It was a long, long time ago,
Where, when and why? I know not now!
They lived but then they passed away,
The leaping leaves sweep up and down.
Since then the fortune and the sail
Have bent beneath the heavy winds,
I long for you, I miss your face,
I never guess what all this means.
It was the moan of aspen trees,
Time fled so fast and much has changed,
Time crowned us two with flowery wreaths,
She was a princess, I a page.
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saRamo
mTis gagiJebul ruebs,
RviiT, ZenZiT da qviSiT,
grigali daayruebs
macxovrisadmi SiSiT.
da dedofali alva,
elvam daRuna civma;
ase gavida gvalva,
ase movida wvima...
jvari, lomi da kuro
farSavangebis aris.
TvalTa angelozT Suro,
Sen, RvTismSobelo karis!
zariT atexil grigals
daviT narinis jvari,
marmariloTa fiqals
gadaafarebs mZlavri.
an gaocebas, rasac
marad anaTebs Zeli,
isev daadebs razas
SemoRamebis celi.
an, rogorc asomTavruls,
mudam SevamCnev caze,
sxvisTvis uxilav-faruls
me rad gelodi ase...
jvarze gakruli elva _
es Cemi daa lurji,
lurj yvavilebis Telva _
axalgazrdoba urCi.
24
Evening
The mountain torrents madly rush,
With savin, sand, weeds wild,
By mighty gales they deafened are
With fright and awe of Christ.
The poplar thats a real queen,
By lightning is bent down,
The drought has gone, has gone away
To let the rains fall down.
The cross, the lion and the bull
They are the peacocks mates,
The eyes of angels envy you,
The Virgin of the Gate3!
And David Narins4 cross of might
Will cover marble slates
With dread and horror of the skies
Amid the roar of gales.
Or marvels of astonishment
Through faith in constant light,
Are latched as in no merriment
By scythes of the night.
Or, what is concealed from others,
I notice in the skies,
Oh, those sacred ancient letters5,
I longed for them long while...
The lightning seen across the cross
The sister blue of mine,
And trampling of the flowers blue
When young a way of life.
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bavSvobis dReebi
gafrinda bavSvobis dReebi,
mindvrebi, Walebi, tyeebi.
uecrad movida SavebiT
sxva bavSvi Soreul dabidan.
mwuxare ferxulSi CavebiT
da Tvali cremlebma dabinda.
balaxi, mdinare, xeebi,
dReebi, bavSvobis dReebi.
1915
28
29
elvare da lomferi
iyo cxra oqtomberi,
magram Tvalma daTvala
mze bevri da cxraTvala...
oh, mziT gadanacxaro,
cxramuxa da cxrawyaro!..
rusTaveli _ xania,
isic cxra anbania...
vneba iyo Rvaruli
Cemi cxra siyvaruli.
odes gnaxe, lomferi
iyo cxra oqtomberi.
1915
30
31
Serigeba
totebs qarisas gadahyva marti,
TeTr tansacmelSi me movirTvebi
da waval qarSi, rogorc mocarti,
gulSi simReris msubuq zvirTebiT.
dRes yvelgan mzea. exla am baRebs
da myinvars, maRal zraxvaTa mefes,
maisi aliT aazambaxebs,
viT Seyvarebuls da meocnebes.
Cven gvirgvinebi gvaqvs odnav msgavsi,
lamazi SuqTa maradi nTebiT:
me msubuq dafnis foTlebiT savse,
myinvars umZimes iagundebiT.
amaRldi, sulo, TeTr akldamaze
mSvenierebis leqsiT mqebeli:
dRes yvelgan mzea da silamaze
sikvdilTan Cemi Semrigebeli!
1915
32
Reconciliation
To windy branches when March yields
In white costume Ill be clad,
Like Mozart, walking in the wind,
With waves of songs in heart Ill tread.
The sunny day is full of light
And icy Kaff7, the king of dreams,
Draws hues of iris from May skies,
As that to lover passion brings.
We both have crowns that look alike,
Eternal light shines over them:
My wreath of laurel is so light,
But Kaffs of glacial heavy gems.
Oh, spirit, rise over tomb white
With praise of beauty in bards words:
The sunny day is full of light
To reconcile me with my Death!
33
mTawmindis mTvare
jer arasdros ar Sobila mTvare ase wynari!
mdumarebiT Semosili SeRamebis qnari
qrolviT iwvevs cisfer landebs da xeebSi
aqsovs...
ase Cumi, ase nazi jer ca me ar maxsovs!
mTvare TiTqos zambaxia SuqTa mkrTali mZiviT,
da mis SuqSi gaxveuli msubuq sizmariviT
mosCans mtkvari da metexi TeTrad moelvare...
oh! arasdros ar Sobila ase nazi mTvare!
aq Cems axlo moxucis lands sZinavs mefur
ZiliT,
aq mwuxare sasaflaos, vardiT da gviriliT,
efineba varskvlavebis krToma mxiaruli...
baraTaSvils aq uyvarda oblad siaruli...
da mec movkvde simRerebSi tbis sevdian gedad,
oRond vTqva, Tu Ramem sulSi rogor Caixeda,
Tu sizmarma viT Seisxa cidan camde frTebi,
da gaSala ocnebaTa lurji ialqnebi;
Tu sikvdilis siaxlove rogor asxvaferebs
momakvdavi gedis hangTa vardebs da CanCqerebs,
Tu rogor vgrZnob, rom sulisTvis, am zRvam rom
aRzarda,
sikvdilis gza arra aris, vardisfer gzis garda;
rom am gzaze zRaparia mgosanT siTamame,
rom arasdros ar yofila ase Cumi Rame,
rom, aCrdilno, me Tqvens axlo sikvdils vegebebi,
rom mefe var da mgosani da simReriT vkvdebi,
rom wahyveba saukunes TqvenTan Cemi qnari...
jer arasdros ar Sobila mTvare ase wynari!
1915
34
35
meri
Sen jvars iwerdi im Rames, meri!
meri, im Rames mag TvalTa kvdoma,
sandomian cis elva da feri
mwuxare iyo, viT Semodgoma!
afeTqebuli da mocaxcaxe
iwoda naTel alTa krebuli,
magram sanTlebze ufro eg saxe
iyo idumal gafiTrebuli.
iwoda taZris gumbaTi, kalTa,
vardTa dioda neli surneli,
magram lodiniT daRalul qalTa
sxva aris locva ganukurneli.
mesmoda Seni ugono fici...
meri, Zvirfaso! dResac ar mjera...
vici wameba, magram ar vici:
es glova iyo Tu jvariswera?
lodebTan viRac mwared godebda
da beWdebis Tvlebs qarSi kargavda...
iyo obloba da Secodeba,
dResaswauls ki is dRe ar hgavda.
taZridan gasuls nabiji Cqari
sad matarebda? xedva mimZimda!
quCaSi mZafri dahqroda qari
da ganuwyvetlad wvimda da wvimda.
nabadi tanze Semovixvie,
Tavi mivande fiqrs Seuwyvetels;
oh! Seni saxli! me saxlTan iqve
Rone-mixdili mivaweq kedels.
36
Mary
You were married that night, Mary!
Mary, that night your eyes were dimmed,
The glints and hues of Heavens weary
With autumns sadness overfilled!
Blasting and trembling, waving higher,
Blazed brightness of the burning flames,
I could with candles but compare
The secret paleness of thy face.
Dome of the church and walls on fire,
Slow fragrance of roses was spread,
Prayer of women, hopeful and tired,
Sounded but desperate and mad.
Faintly I heard your thoughtless vow...
Though never believed it... my dear!
Torture it was, but knew not how
Wedding turned into grief and fear.
Here someone wailed close to the walls
Losing bright gemstones in the wind...
The bells for orphans in mind tolled,
It was not merriment indeed.
I left the church and quickly paced
Towards the roads! Could hardly see!
The heavy wind blew in my face,
It rained and rained, and waters streamed.
I wrapped around my dark flint cape,
Unceasing thoughts strayed in my mind;
Then leaned against your dwelling place!
The only home that I could find.
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gzaSi
I
lurji aCrdili cxel haerSi dgas,
ismis nacnobi JrJola simindis,
zuzuni gaaqvs ubinao skas,
oh! samudamod dawyevlil sindiss.
suls enatreba Zveli zRapari!
warsuli wminda iyo am qalis _
rogorc sofelSi samreklos zari,
rogorc yanebSi elva namgalis.
rodis movida codvebis grova
da jojoxeTi... miTxari, rodis?
dabrunda suli da veRar hpova
rame, garda gzis da civi lodis.
II
mindvrebi, mTebi da zRva yanebi
mzeze elvarebs namebiT sveli,
kvlav uzrunvelad miveqanebi
uCvevad kargi da fexSiSveli.
mokluli viyav ucxo zmanebiT,
damwvari viyav qalaqis qafiT,
xelebi ar TrTis xelTaTmanebiT!
suli ar tiris Savi niRabiT!
III
mwvane WalebSi afrinda mwyeri,
gafrinda RalRa, mihqris torola.
40
On the Road
I
The blue ghost stands in the hot air,
From fields of maize the shivers heard,
A homeless hive is humming there,
Like consciousness forever cursed.
The soul is missing fairy tales!
The ladys past was pure and good
Like chapels bell on country veils,
Like lightning of a reaping hook.
When did the mass of sins arrive?
When did hell come with all its moans?
The soul came back to meet and find
The lonely road and cold grave stones.
II
Vast cornfields, veils and mountains huge
Are shining bright with wet fresh dews,
Im careless and I rush barefoot,
To what I guess was never used.
But I was killed by strange, odd dreams
And burned was I by city foam,
My hands are never gloved indeed!
No mask can hide the weeping soul!
III
A quail has flown from deep green groves,
A snipe is up, high is a lark,
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Tovli
me Zlier miyvars iisfer Tovlis
qalwulebiviT xididan fena,
mwuxare grZnoba civi sisovlis
da siyvarulis ase moTmena.
Zvirfaso! suli mevseba TovliT:
dReebi rbian da me vberdebi!
Cems samSobloSi me movvle mxolod
udabno lurjad naxaverdebi.
oh! aseTia Cemi cxovreba:
ianvars moZmed ar veZnelebi,
magram me mudam memaxsovreba
Seni TovliviT mkrTali xelebi.
Zvirfaso! vxedav... vxedav Sens xelebs,
uRonod daxrils TovlTa dafnaSi.
ielvebs, qreba da kvlav ielvebs
Seni mandili am udabnoSi...
amitom miyvars iisfer Tovlis
Cveni mdinaris xididan fena,
mwuxare grZnoba qrolis, mimovlis
da zambaxebis wyebad dawvena.
Tovs! aseTi dRis xarebam lurji
da daRaluli sizmriT damTova.
rogorme zamTars Tu gadavurCi,
rogorme qarma Tu mimatova!
aris gza, aris neli TamaSi...
da Sen midixar marto, sul marto!
me Tovli miyvars, rogorc Sens xmaSi
erT dros faruli dardi miyvarda!
miyvarda maSin, maTrobda maSin
mSvidi dReebis TeTri broleba,
mindvris foTlebi Sens daSlil TmaSi
da Tmebis qariT gamoqroleba.
momwyurdi exla, ise momwyurdi,
50
Snow
Im fond of flakes of violet snow
Like virgins falling from a bridge,
A doleful touch of wetness cold
To bear the pains of Love in me.
My soul is, darling, filled with snow:
Im getting old, my days run fast!
The land I paced in native home
A desert blue with velvet paths.
This is my life: Im not at odds
With friendly January at all,
But I shall ever have in thoughts
Your hands, your hands, as pale as snow.
Oh, darling! See I... see your hands
In laurel snowed, bent in relief,
Ive seen your veil in desert lands
Though disappearing in between...
Thats why I love the violet snow,
Flakes falling from our rivers bridge,
The layers of iris in low rows,
A doleful touch of winds that whirl.
T snows! And Lady Day in winter
Has covered me with tired blue dreams.
If I could but survive this winter,
If winds could spare me and leave!
There are the roads and games we meet...
You walk alone without recourse!
I love the snow as loved that grief,
Concealed in tender voice of yours!
Oh, then I loved, I truly loved
The peaceful days of crystal white,
In your loose hair the leaves were cast,
Your hair was blowing then so high.
I long for you, I long just like
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(ZRvnad ol-ols)
ori zRva Sexvda erTimeores,
erTi _ qariSxlis, meore _ mSvidis,
maT aRtacebiT ganimeores,
rom dro axali imediT midis.
feeriul navs scildeba kordi,
amayi lordi dgas, droa Zveli.
bairons usmens meri Cavorti
da feradebSi miscuravs Selli.
talRebi sTvlemen, viT Sori bedi
da napirebTan misuli navi,
zvirTebTan erTad oxravs miledi
da poeziis daiZra zvavi.
1917
60
*
(to Ol-ol)16
61
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66
67
silaSi vardi
xedav am yvavils? gazafxulis mze
raRac ucnaur grZnebas axvevda...
man ar icoda yofna mSfoTare,
man ar icoda mwuxri da sevda.
is qariSxals ar mouwyvetia,
radgan xalisiT ucqerda zeca;
ara, is mSobel buCqs TavisTavad
moswyda da mtvrian gzaze daeca.
aRar uRimis exla mze yvavils
da arc yvavili amSvenebs mdelos;
neba aqvs zecas, sul daaWknos is,
brbosac neba aqvs, fexiT gasTelos!
1917 (?)
68
A Rose In Sand21
Look at this flower! The sun in spring
Created magic over her...
She22 never knew a troubled being,
Of sorrow never overheard.
She was not plucked by storm or wind,
She viewed the skies with joy the most,
It happened so that from a twig
It fell itself on dusty road.
No more the rose the fields adorns,
No more the sun now smiles on her;
The skies have right to fade her all
And mobs have right to trample her!
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cxovreba Cemi
cxovreba Cemi uankares Rvinis feria,
igi elvarebs, sabolood daSreba vidre,
masSi dideba poetisa me davimkvidre,
romlis gareSe _ ukvdavebac araferia.
TeTri dReebis isev ise mihyveba dasi,
ar momwyindeba sadRegrZelod avwio Tasi
Tqveni, romelTa gataceba... mxolod... Jinia.
me arc warsulis, arc momavlis ar meSinia.
1922
78
My Life
My life is like the purest, purest wine,
It shines and dazzles till is dried all up,
Through it established I a poets fame,
Save this, immortality never lasts.
Im never tired to toast to you, for whom
A passion... is a mere whim... that tortures,
A whole host of days, white days, now moves,
Im feared neither for my past nor future.
79
qari hqris...
qari hqris, qari hqris, qari hqris,
foTlebi mihqrian qardaqar...
xeTa rigs, xeTa jars rkalad xris,
sada xar, sada xar, sada xar?..
rogor wvims, rogor Tovs, rogor Tovs,
ver gpoveb verasdros... verasdros!
Seni me saxeba damdevs Tan
yovel dros, yovelTvis, yovelgan!..
Sori ca nislian fiqrebs scris...
qari hqris, qari hqris, qari hqris!..
1924
80
81
Sindisis Wadrebs
oro Wadaro, wyvilo Wadaro,
Semoxveulno SuqTa badrebiT, _
o, me ar vici, ras SegadaroT,
an ucxoeTSi rad menatrebiT?
kvlav gaxveviaT oqros zewari
da Semodgomis mkrTali blondebi?
me, uTvistomo da garewari,
Tqven gagixsenebT da davRondebi.
TqvenTan rbiodnen naTelni dReni,
locva bavSvuri, feri geduri,
exla rad mesmis Sriali Tqveni,
rogorc tirili da sayveduri?
1925
82
83
avadmyofs
Sexede: vardni mSvidi TvalebiT
sZleben naridni msubuq ZalebiT,
vardebi ufro keTilSobili
kvdebian swrafi gardacvalebiT.
gayviTlebula midamo-are
SemoZarculi mTebiT moare.
favnma siciliT movlo mTa-veli
da ara erTi mohkla yvavili.
Semodgomaa tkivili Cumi
da xelis gulTa nazi qavili.
yviTelo, Cemo yviTelo vardo,
STenilxar marto, sruliad marto.
riTmebis garda araferi maqvs...
riTi gagarTo? rogor gagarTo?
1925
84
To A Sick Person
Look at the roses with their quiet eyes,
Surviving with light strenght they are alive.
But other roses of much nobler sort
They die so fast, the sight of them is lost.
The ambience is yellow all around,
It is surrounded by stripped bare mounts,
A faun in laughter paced the mounts and fields,
And many, many flowers it did kill.
Its autumn now and silent is the pain,
A tender itch I feel in palm so pale.
How shall I please, how to amuse you, how?
All withered, withered, left alone youre now.
My yellow rose, oh, yellow rose of mine,
I guess, you know, that all I have are rhymes...
85
sasaflaoni
sarkofagidan dgeba mumia. ra siCumea. haeri
lurji abreSumia.
orxideebi ecema niloss, ros mxurvaleba
qviSaze kvnesis,
unda, rom suli ar miisilos, unda samare
hpovos ramzesis.
is iyo mefe. exlaa mtveri, rom saukuneT rigi
gariyos,
ar SeuZlia iyos pirferi, ar SeuZlia mtveri ar
iyos.
da saukuneT rigs Tvlis mumia: mziani dRea Tu
samumia.
1925
86
Graveyards
A mummy rises. Oh, look there! What silence. Blue silk is
the air.
A sarcophagus. All is quiet. Orchids are falling on the Nile,
The heat is groaning and strives, to free the soul from sand
meanwhile,
To find the coffin Ramses lay. He was the king, but now
is clay,
Hypocrisy is not his way, he cant be other than mere clay.
A mummy counts the ages there: a sunny day or simoom26
flares.
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
celi kivis
celi kivis da velebi,
surneleba dadga TiviT.
Tivas Tibven mTibvelebi,
ca lurjia gumbaTiviT.
dros ar uyvars didxans dgoma
da yvavilebs arTmevs dibas,
male mova Semodgoma
da yvelafers gadaTibavs.
1926
94
95
96
97
vardebi
me, zamTrisagan jaWvawyvetili,
nacnob baRisken mivemarTebi,
sad ferad ucxo, ynosvad keTili,
zamTar da zafxul hyvavis vardebi.
de, homirosis da hesiodes
feTqdnen vardebi maRla axrili,
maT ver damarxavs sastiki lodi,
samudamod var borkilayrili.
dae, maisis xatavdes xeli
floras, graciebs, muzebs da eross.
romeli iyo poeti wrfeli,
rom siyvarulze ar daemReros?
vardebi igi eladis gemma
dafanta, rogorc Zvirfasi Crdili,
rogorc saxeba da diadema
silamazisa da sinamdvilis.
romeli lxini iyo uvardo,
da an romeli dRe sacnauri,
an anakreons vin ganumartos,
raa uvardod dResaswauli?
saxeTa feri da netareba,
bage, TiTebi Tu yofna mzardi,
poets yovelTvis aqvs Sedareba:
maisis vardi, sicocxlis vardi.
marad izrdeba vardTan WinWari,
rogorc odesme uTqvams ovidis.
dae, movardes setyvaTa Rvari,
da cecxli Cemze gardamovides.
98
Roses28
Unchained from pains of wintry bondage
I pace towards a lovely park,
The whole year round where deep in foliage
Grow roses sweet and roses smart.
Let roses of Hesiod or Homer
Never miss beats when rising up,
No stones can ever press them over,
Ive cast the fetters off my harp!
Let hands of May draw wonder-pictures
Of muses, Eros, and of fleurs,
Its true, a poet sounds bewildered,
Who never speaks of love in words.
The ship of Hellas spread the roses
As if the dearest precious ghosts,
As if tiaras and the muses
Of life and beauty never lost.
No feast has ever been created
Without a rose, each artist knows,
Anacreon could ever make it
A holiday without a rose?
Refined ladies and blissful air,
The charm of being is rising high,
A poet can always well compare
A rose in May with rose of life.
With roses ever grows the nettle,
The poet Ovid used to say,
Let words in flows and torrents battle
With me alone, who burns at stake.
99
100
101
gulo, ra gemarTeba?
Semodgomis yvavilebs
didebasTan mivitan,
erTi Sori ocneba
maxsovs Zvel motividan.
vardebi ar arian,
magram ra mevardeba?
sulo, ra gemarTeba?
gulo, ra mogivida?
1927
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
ra caa!
Sexede, ra caa! _
es aris, racaa!
Sexede, am mxares! _
zRviT dila gvaxarebs!
Sexede, ra zRvaa!
o, es zRva sul sxvaa:
gulia, miwaa!..
ra caa, ra caa!
1946
110
111
In Praise of Nikortsminda32
Im holding my lyre
As close as I wish,
A glamorous light
For me has been lit.
How solidly built
And adorned with skies,
Great Nikortsminda,
That rises so high.
Losing in passion,
The one who comes,
The beams are so tender
With magic lace carved.
I wonder who raised,
And how did he raise?
What hands ever raised
Great Nikortsminda!
A treasure we own!
How bold and how rich,
Harmony through stone
Like songs we may reach.
Well cut! Oh, well cut!
By whom it is cut,
Great Nikortsminda
With wisdom is cut!
The arches round here,
The pillars well tied,
They look as if come
From our dreams and skies.
I wonder, who built it,
A man of mercy?
113
ra madlma aago
sveti _ nikorwminda!
grZnob, viT diadia
Tormeti sarkmeli,
xazebSi anTia
cecxli misarqmeli:
neta vin aanTo,
rom grZnobiT aanTo
da wlebs gadaando
naTlad nikorwminda!
xveulT diadeba
vxedav _ ra uxvia,
drom mas diadema
krZalviT Seuxvia.
neta vin mohqarga,
da roca mohqarga,
Sig mihkarg-mohkarga
gzneba _ nikorwminda!
mkveTri da moqnili
xazTa dasruleba
aris amodqmnili
natvris asruleba.
es is simkveTrea,
es is simdidrea,
raiTac mkvidria
Zegli nikorwminda.
Senis sulmnaTisad
asvla erovani:
yeli gumbaTisa
maRalRerovani,
camdis aRerili,
114
115
nebiT aRerili,
saTnod aRerili
gSvenis, nikorwminda!
mzera qarTulia
sivrcis daunjebiT,
Tvali garTulia
frTian faskunjebiT:
frTebi, frTebi ginda
kidev frTebi gvinda,
ginda daeuflo
sivrces, nikorwminda!
Sen, frTamoRuRunes
JamTa simaRleze,
Cveni saukune
gicavs, uaxlesi:
mZlavri xelovneba,
xalxis xelovneba _
brwyinavs saqarTvelos
qebad nikorwminda!
1947
116
117
yvelaferi
SeiZleba moxdes:
mTa mTas Sexvdes,
mze mTis iqiT moxvdes,
vardi daWknes,
ros bulbuli mosxltes, _
yvelaferi
SeiZleba moxdes.
SeiZleba,
ros dabneldes are,
xevebs iqiT
gadaqandes mTvare,
Seicvalos,
varskvlavebis are, _
yvelaferi
SeiZleba moxdes.
SeiZleba
SxamiT savse sasmiss
gawvdides xma
megobarTa razmis,
Tan saSinels
gimzadebdes rasmes, _
yvelaferi
SeiZleba moxdes.
samSoblos win
yovel valTa moxdis,
mSvidobis wigns
gvirgvins vervin moxdis,
mSvidobis gza
rom odesme mokvdes,
ara, es ar
SeiZleba moxdes.
118
1956
119
120
121
122
123
Translators Notes
1. A comparative study of Galaktions and Byrons
works permits us to conclude that this poem is a free and
very artistic translation of Lord Byrons Fragment
Written Shortly After The Marriage Of Miss Chaworth
composed as early as in 1805 (see Translators
Foreword):
Hills of Annesley, bleak and barren,
Where my thoughtless childhood strayd,
How the northern tempests, warring,
Howl above thy tufted shade!
Now no more, the hours beguiling,
Former favourite haunts I see;
Now no more my Mary smiling
Makes ye seem a Heaven to me.
2. There are two early legends about the aspen tree. One
relates that the Cross was made from the aspen, and that,
when the tree realised the purpose for which it was being
used, its leaves began to tremble with horror and have
never ceased. The other legend is that, when Christ died on
the Cross, all the trees bowed in sorrow except the aspen.
Because of its pride and sinful arrogance the leaves of the
aspen were doomed to continual trembling (George
Ferguson, Signs and Symbols in Christian Art [Oxford:
Oxford University Press, 1971], p. 28.)
3. Virgin of the Gate wonder-working icon of the Virgin
Mary at the entrance of the Iveron, the Georgian Orthodox
monastery on Mount Athons.
4. David Narin King of Georgia (1225-1293),
distinguished for his faith.
5. Ancient Georgian letters In the original text we have
124
Toast).
14. Grave Digger Galaktions poem mesaplave.
15. The Night And I Galaktions poem me da game.
16. Ol-ol pet name of the poets first wife, Olga Okujava.
17. The first version of this poem was inscribed by
Galaktion on the back of a postcard showing Lord Byron in
a boat in the company of Shelley, Mary Godwin, Claire
Clairmont, Dr Polidori and others.
18. Mary In the original text we have Mary Chaworth.
19. Graal Holy Graal or dish used by Christ in instituting
the Eucharist.
20. Lydia ancient Kingdom in Anatolia (7th-6th centuries
BC), with its capital at Sardis. The last king of the Lydians,
Croesus, was defeated by the Persians in 546 BC.
21. In the original text, as well as in this translated version
there is no mention of the word sand except in the title.
This poem continues the theme touched on in the poem
Azure Land or Rose in Sand, where, as I argue, the first
part of the Georgian title, silajvarde, meaning azure
(azure-land), is equal in content to the second part of vardi
silashi, meaning a rose in sand: if we replace the
adverbial modifier of place silashi, and the noun vardi,
as the Georgian syntax permits, we may have the same
sounding: silashi vardi and silajvarde. The poet
connected these two homonymous word combinations with
the conjunction anu meaning or, that in the Georgian
language also introduces an equivalent. For Galaktion this
was the way to create a kind of enigma, where a rose
symbolizes the Virgin Mary.
126
Mountains.
39. Gori ancient town in Kartli, Eastern Georgia.
40. Gori Fortress historic fortification in the centre of
Gori dating back to the 10th century BC and reconstructed
in 1774 by Erekle II, king of Georgia.
41. Sioni Georgian Cathedral in Tbilisi, erected in the 6th
century and restored at the end of the 18th century.
42. Kolkhida name dating back to the 8th century BC
given by Greek writers to the valley of the Phasis (now
Rioni) in the west of Georgia (also known as Colchis) (see
note 30).
43. Bakhtrioni fortress in Kakheti in Eastern Georgia,
built by the Persians in the 17th century, during their rule in
this country. In 1659 the Georgians revolted against the
Persians and destroyed the fort. The ruins still remain.
44. This translation is made according to a later version of
the poem (see Acknowledgments).
45. Irakli II Georgian king (1720-1798) famous for his
wisdom and courage.
129