Nikolai Nekrasov’s “Giving Attention to the Horrors of War”

June 22, 2016, the 75th anniversary of the Nazi attack on Russia, I was in Yalta, Crimea, with an American citizens’ delegation. I was asked to speak on behalf of our group at a major ceremony. Poetry always loses something in translation, and my attempt, of course, is no exception. I have tried to be literal without undue sacrifice to verse and feeling. Nevertheless, a lot is lost. Внимая ужасам войны, Heeding the horrors of war, При каждой новой жертве боя At every new victim of battle Мне жаль не друга, не жены I feel sorry not for his friend, nor for his wife, Мне жаль не самого героя. I feel sorry not even for the hero himself. Увы! утешится жена, Alas, the wife will be comforted, И друга лучший друг забудет; And best friends forget their friend; Но где-то есть душа одна – But somewhere there is one soul – Она до гроба помнить будет! Who will remember unto the grave! Средь лицемерных наших дел Amidst the hypocrisy of our affairs И всякой пошлости и прозы And all the banality and triviality Одни я в мир подсмотрел Unique among what I have observed in the world Святые, искренние слезы – Sacred, sincere tears – То слезы бедных матерей! The tears of poor mothers! Им не забыть своих детей, They do not forget their own children, Погибших на кровавой ниве, Who have perished on the bloody battlefield, Как не поднять плакучей иве Just as the weeping willow never lifts Своих поникнувших ветвей. Its dangling branchesPoetry always loses something in translation, and my attempt, of course, is no exception. I have tried to be literal without undue sacrifice to verse and feeling. Nevertheless, a lot is lost. Внимая ужасам войны, Heeding the horrors of war, При каждой новой жертве боя At every new victim of battle Мне жаль не друга, не жены I feel sorry not for his friend, nor for his wife, Мне жаль не самого героя. I feel sorry not even for the hero himself. Увы! утешится жена, Alas, the wife will be comforted, И друга лучший друг забудет; And best friends forget their friend; Но где-то есть душа одна – But somewhere there is one soul – Она до гроба помнить будет! Who will remember unto the grave! Средь лицемерных наших дел Amidst the hypocrisy of our affairs И всякой пошлости и прозы And all the banality and triviality Одни я в мир подсмотрел Unique among what I have observed in the world Святые, искренние слезы – Sacred, sincere tears – То слезы бедных матерей! The tears of poor mothers! Им не забыть своих детей, They do not forget their own children, Погибших на кровавой ниве, Who have perished on the bloody battlefield, Как не поднять плакучей иве Just as the weeping willow never lifts Своих поникнувших ветвей. Its dangling branches