When your face came rising
above my crumpled life,
the only thing I understood at first
was how meager were all my possessions.
But your face cast a peculiar glow
on forests, seas, and rivers,
initiating into the colors of the world
uninitiated me.
I'm so afraid, I'm so afraid,
the unexpected dawn might end,
ending the discoveries, tears, and raptures,
but I refuse to fight this fear.
This fear-I understand-
is love itself. I cherish this fear,
not knowing how to cherish,
I, careless guardian of my love.
This fear has ringed me tightly.
These moments are so brief, I know,
and, for me, the colors will disappear
when once your face has set...
Translated by George Reavey
Colours
Yevgeny Yevtushenko
(1)
Poem topics: life, world, fight, understand, dawn, guardian, afraid, cherish, face, fear, love, I love you, Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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Philippa: Very bad translation kills this poem. There is a much better translation