Попытка ревности

Как живётся вам с другою, —
Проще ведь? — Удар весла! —
Линией береговою
Скоро ль память отошла

Обо мне, плавучем острове
(По́ небу — не по водам)!
Души, души! — быть вам сёстрами,
Не любовницами — вам!

Как живётся вам с простою
Женщиною? Без божеств?
Государыню с престола
Свергши (с оного сошед),

Как живётся вам — хлопочется —
Ёжится? Встаётся — как?
С пошлиной бессмертной пошлости
Как справляетесь, бедняк?

«Судорог да перебоев —
Хватит! Дом себе найму».
Как живётся вам с любою —
Избранному моему!

Свойственнее и сьедобнее —
Снедь? Приестся — не пеняй…
Как живётся вам с подобием —
Вам, поправшему Синай!

Как живётся вам с чужою,
Здешнею? Ребром — люба?
Стыд Зевесовой вожжою
Не охлёстывает лба?

Как живётся вам — здоровится —
Можется? Поётся — как?
С язвою бессмертной совести
Как справляетесь, бедняк?

Как живётся вам с товаром
Рыночным? Оброк — крутой?
После мраморов Каррары
Как живётся вам с трухой

Гипсовой? (Из глыбы высечен
Бог — и начисто разбит!)
Как живётся вам с сто-тысячной —
Вам, познавшему Лилит!

Рыночною новизною
Сыты ли? К волшбам остыв,
Как живётся вам с земною
Женщиною, бе́з шестых

Чувств?..
Ну, за голову: счастливы?
Нет? В провале без глубин —
Как живётся, милый? Тяжче ли,
Так же ли, как мне с другим?

19 ноября 1924
Марина Цветаева (1892—1941)

An Attempt at Jealousy

Home is your life with the other one,
Simpler, isn’t it? One stroke of the oar
Then a long coastline, and soon
Even the memory of me

Will be a floating island
(In the sky, not on the waters):
Spirits, spirits, you will be
Sisters, and never lovers.

How is your life with an ordinary
Woman? without godhead?
Now that your sovereign has
Been deposed (and you have stepped dow

How is your life? Are you fussing?
Flinching? How do you get up?
The tax of deathless vulgarity,
Can you cope with it, poor man?

«Scenes and hysterics-I’ve had
Enough! I’ll rent my own house.»
How is your life with the other one
Now, you that I chose for my own?

More to your taste, more delicious
Is it, your food? Don’t moan if you sicken.
How is your life with an image,
You, who walked on Sinai?

How is your life with a stranger
From this world? Can you (be frank)
Love her? Or do you feel shame
Like Zeus’s reins on your forehead?

How is your life? Are you
Healthy? How do you sing?
How do you deal with the pain
Of an undying conscience, poor man?

How is your life with a piece of market
Stuff, at a steep price?
After Carrara marble,
How is your life with the dust of

Plaster now? (God was hewn from
Stone, but he is smashed to bits.)
How do you live with one of a
Thousand women, after Lilith?

Sated with newness, are you?
Now you are grown cold to magic,
How is your life with an
Earthly woman, without a sixth

Sense? Tell me: are you happy?
Not? In a shallow pit? How is
Your life, my love? Is it as
Hard as mine with another man?

19 November 1924

Marina Tsvetaeva
Translated by Elaine Feinstein

Attempted Jealousy

What’s it like with another woman —
Simpler? — a flash of the oar! —
Did the memory of me
soon fade off-shore,

like the beach of a floating island,
(in the sky — not in the sea!)
Souls, souls! You’ll be sisters,
not lovers — that’s what you’ll be!

What’s life like with an ordinary
woman? Now that you’ve dethroned
your idol (renounced the throne).
Without the divinity?

What’s your life like — occupation —
shrivelled? Getting up — what’s it like?
What do you pay, poor man,
for endless triviality – the price?

‘I’m through with hysteria, convulsions!
I’ll rent a place, have done!’
What’s it like with a common
woman, my chosen one?

More suitable and edible —
the food? Boring? —Don’t complain…
What’s it like with an imitation —
you who climbed the holy Mount? A strain?

What’s your life like with a stranger,
a worldly soul. Well? — Is it love?
Like the god’s whip, does shame
not lash your head from above?

What’s it like — your health —
how is it? How do you sing?
How do you cope, poor man,
with the festering sore of endless conscience?

What’s life like with a marketable
purchase? The price — terrible?
What’s it like with crumbling plaster of Paris
after the finest Carrara marble?

(The Goddess made from stone —
and smashed to bits!)
What’s your life like with one of millions,
you, who’ve known Lilith?

Does the marketable purchase meet
your needs? Now magic’s dead,
what’s your life like with a mortal
woman, neither using the sixth sense?

Well, swear, are you happy, then?
No? What’s your life like in a pit
with no depth, my love? Harder,
or just like mine with another man?

Marina Tsvetaeva
Translated by A. S. Kline

Jealousy Attempt

How’s life with the other woman?
Simpler, yeah? A stroke of oars
by a long coastline, and even
memory of me unmoors

as a floating island (in the
sky, not on the waters)! Poor
spirits, souls! You should be solely
sisters and not paramours.

How’s life with an ordinary
woman, with your goddess gone?
Having overthrown the Empress
thou thyself hast left the throne.

How’s life? Are you flinching, twattering?
Do you even get up? Why,
what a tax of deathless tackiness!
Can you manage it, poor guy?

«Squabbles and hysterics! That is
it! I’m living on my own.»
How’s life with just anybody,
you who were my Chosen One?

Food more edible, more fitting?
If you get fed up, don’t whine!
How’s life with a craven image,
after trampling your Sinai?

How’s life with a stranger of this
world? Dear as your rib? Don’t lie.
Or is shame like Zeus’ reins now
raining lashes round your eye?

How’s life? How’s your health? How do you
sing still? Are you getting by
with that sting of deathless conscience?
Can you manage it? Poor guy.

How’s life with that piece of market
produce? What all did it cost?
After the Carrara marble
how’s life making out with dust

of punk plaster? (God was hewn from
stone but he’s been smashed to bits)
How’s life with the hundred thousandth,
after knowing Lilith’s lips?

Sated with her market novelty?
You’ve grown cold to magic wits,
so how is life with that earthly
woman, who has got no sixth

sense? Cross your heart: are you happy?
No? In shallow pits? How sad
is your life dear? Is it hard as
my life with another man?

Marina Tsvetaeva
Translated by A.Z. Foreman

Attempt at Jealousy

How can you live with another woman —
Simpler? — Pull at the oar! —
Head for the coast line
Soon your memory will have departeded

of me, the floating island
(In the sky — not in the sea)!
Souls, Souls! — You’ll be sisters,
Not lovers — you!

How can you live with a simple
Woman? Who lacks god’s gifts?
The queen of the altar
Is overthrown (by the groom above)

How can you live — fussing —
Shivers? Getting up — how?
In those deadly trivialities
How do you cope, poor man?

«Hysteria and convulsions I am through —
Enough! Home, I am self employed».
How can you live with any ordinary lover —
My chosen one!

Suitable and edible —
Food? Fed up — no one to blame…
How can you live with someone —
Who trampled underfoot [the laws of] Sinai!

How can you live with someone,
Here? Is this — love?
Shame, does Zeus with his reins
Not whip your forehead?

How are you living — healthy —
How is it? Singing poetry — how?
With a poisened immortal conscience
How do you cope, poor man?

How can you live with commodities
That are salable? Price — terrible?
After Carrara marble
How can you live with cheap plunder

Plaster of Paris? (carved from blocks
God — and smashed to bits!)
How can you live with one of the hundred thousands —
You, do remember Lilith!

Novelties for sale
Do they suit you? Watered down magic,
How do you live with a mortal
Woman, who lacks a Sixth

Sense?..
Ha, how is your head: happy?
No? In a pit of no depth —
How are you, dear? It all depends,
The same as I with another man?

Marina Tsvetaeva
Translated by Rolf W. F. Gross

An attempt at jealousy

How’re you living with another?
Easier? — A splash of oar! —
Has your memory quickly rather
Vanished like an ocean shore?

The memory of me (an island, high
In the sky, not in the sea!);
Souls, o souls… You will be bound by
Sympathy, not fervency!

How’re you living with the common,
Simple woman, godless one?
Once the queen by you dethroned
(And you abdicated then).

How’re you living with your vanity?
Falling down, getting up?
Are you mending your mendacity’s
Overflowing cup?

«Cramps and spasms are just too many…
I will find another home».
How’re you living with a plain one,
You — the one I called my own?

Food tastes better, more familiar?
Palls on you… Do not complain…
How’re you living with a failure?
You who’ve trampled Mount Sinai?

How’re you living with a local,
Normal woman from your rib?
Will not shame, like Apollo’s laurel
Sit upon your brow deep?

How’s your health and your ability
Chanting songs and making up?
Are you drinking your duplicity’s
Overflowing cup?

How’re you living now with paltry
Market? Do taxes hurt?
You who’ve known noble marble,
How does it feel to live with dirt,

With gypsum (from a rock God was sculpted,
And thoroughly smashed to bits!)
How’s life with a hundred thousandth —
For you who’ve possessed Lilith?

Are you done with magic forces,
Sated with the market wares;
How’re you living with an earthly
Woman without a sixth sense?

How are you really? Happier?
Falling in a shallow cleft?
How is your life, love, is it harsher or
Same as mine after you left?

Marina Tsvetaeva
Translated by Maya Jouravel

An Attempt at Jealousy

How is your life with another, —
Simpler, is it? — One stroke of an oar!—
And as easily as some coastline
Your memory of me

Recedes, like a floating island
(In the sky — not the water!)
Souls, souls! should be your sisters,
Not your mistress—es!

How is your life with a simple
Woman? Without your goddess?
Your Majesty dethroned, over—
Thrown (by a single slip-up),

How is your life — keeping busy —
Holed up? How do you even — get up?
With the customs of undying banality
How do you manage, poor man?

“Enough of these eruptions —
And scenes! I’ll get my own house.”
How is life with just anyone —
My chosen one!

With more appropriate, more edible —
Food? Fed up — not your fault . . .
How is your life with a molehill —
You, who trampled Sinai!

How is your life with a foreigner,
A local? Close to your rib — a dear?
Doesn’t shame lash your head
Like the reins of Zeus?

How is your life — are you well —
Able? Do you sing ever — how?
With the curse of undying conscience
How do you manage, poor man?

How is your life with a commodity
Of the market? Finding her rent — steep?
After the marble of Carrara
How is life with the dust

Of plaster? (A God—hewn from
Blocks — and now utterly shattered!)
How is your life with the hundredth-thousandth —
You, who knew Lilith!

Does your novelty of the market
Satisfy? Grown cool to enchantment,
How is your life with an earthly
Woman, with no sixth

Sense?
Well, I declare: are you happy?
No? In a shallow draining whirl —
How is your life, darling? Is it harder,
As it is for me, with another?

Marina Tsvetaeva
Translated by Mary Jane White

An attempt at jealousy

How is living with another?
Simpler? The thud of oars! —
Memories of me soon start to
Drift like wave-lines by the shores,

I’m the island in the distance,
(Not on water! — in the sky!)
Souls! — You’re destined to be sisters
And not lovers in this life!

How is living with the common
Woman and not sharing the divine?
Having now removed the sovereign
From her throne (forced to resign),

How is living full of cares?
How is waking with another?
Poor man, how much can you bear
Of the tax of this dishonor?

“I have had it! — being bothered —
I will rent a place. Enough!”
How is living with some other —
You, my only chosen love?

You eat her food with such elation,
Who’s to blame when you’re fed up…
Do you enjoy the replication?
You, who tramped the Sinai top!

Living with someone so foreign —
Do you love her — for the rib?
Does the shame still lash your forehead
Every day with Zeus’ whips?

How is living with her, there?
Feeling healthy? Sing at all?
Poor man, how much can you bear
Of the shame that plagues your soul?

How is living with the market
Good? Are the prices rising fast?
Having known Carrara marble,
How is living with the dust

of the plaster? (God was carved
In the block, — then, smashed completely!)
With the thousandth — is it hard?
You, who used to be with Lilith!

Got bored of market products early?
Got bored of novelties and sick
Of magic? How is living the earthly
Woman, one without the sixth

Sense?…
Living happily in love?
No? In despair, without an end?
How’s your life? Is it as tough
As my own with another man?

Marina Tsvetaeva
Translated by Andrey Kneller

An Attempt at Jealousy

How is your life with that other one?
Simpler, is it? A stroke of the oars
and a long coastline—
and the memory of me

is soon a drifting island
(not in the ocean—in the sky!)
Souls—you will be sisters—
sisters, not lovers.

How is your life with an ordinary
woman? without the god inside her?
The queen supplanted—

How do you breathe now?
Flinch, waking up?
What do you do, poor man?

“Hysterics and interruptions—
enough! I’ll rent my own house!”
How is your life with that other,
you, my own.

Is the breakfast delicious?
(If you get sick, don’t blame me!)
How is it, living with a postcard?
You who stood on Sinai.

How’s your life with a tourist
on Earth? Her rib (do you love her?)
is it to your liking?

How’s life? Do you cough?
Do you hum to drown out the mice in your mind?

How do you live with cheap goods: is the market rising?
How’s kissing plaster-dust?

Are you bored with her new body?
How’s it going, with an earthly woman,
with no sixth sense?

Are you happy?
No? In a shallow pit—how is your life,
my beloved? Hard as mine
with another man?

Marina Tsvetaeva
Translated by Ilya Kaminsky and Jean Valentine