Candles trickle and drown The parquet ancient floor, On the shoulders, flows down The epaulets’ silver ore. Golden wine effervesces In the goblet and view... All the past goes away with, Frees the room for a new. Having felt sheer boredom From the death’s ruthless eye, Scared stags bound forward Toward the hunters’ true fire. At a person who’s blameless, Someone lays the gun tube... All the past goes away with, At the door, stands a new. Someone gloating and narrow, With the evil joy, aims Razor-sharp poisonous arrows At the sunset’s red flame. In the melodies’ tempest, Threadbare notes renew... All the past goes away with, On its place, goes a new.
© Akbar Muhammad. Translation, 2013
(akbarmuhammad.awardspace.co.uk)
[Adapted from translations by other translators:
de Cate and Navrozov’s “The candles are melting...”,
Natalia Tverskova’s “Candles melting...”.]