* * *
Взял неласковую, угрюмую,
с бредом каторжным, с темной думою,
с незажившей тоскою вдовьей,
с непрошедшей старой любовью,
не на радость взял за себя,
не по воле взял, а любя.
1942
Ольга Берггольц (1910-1975)
You took me…
You took me, hostile, sullen!
was raving like a convict,
my mind full of dark thoughtswith
my unhealed widow’s anguish,
with an old love that had not passed;
not for joy did I take for myself,
not willingly did I take, but loving.
Olga Bergholts
Translated by Daniel Weissbort
