Xiaoqing Heдобавил заметку 7 лет назад

When's your next birthday, Qing?

The CAUCASUS

I'm severed from you at the dawn of my days
Oh, southern mountains, that is my fate.
To remember you always once is enough.
I love the Caucasus like a sweet song of love
Of my native land.
I love the Caucasus to the end.

I lost my mother when I was too young
Yet I heard each hour of rose twilight
That steppe echoing with her voice so sweet.
That’s why I love the peaks
Of those rocks and that land.
I love the Caucasus to the end.

Those dales and ravines filled me with joy;
Five years have passed, I’ve been longing for them all.
I saw there a pair of heavenly eyes;
My heart still whispers
Recollecting that sight:
I love the Caucasus all my life!..

I thank Uly Marrero who made some corrections in my translation.

Oh wow, so beautifully rendered, Elena! I visited Lermontov house museum yesterday in Pyatigorsk, made photos of many of his Caucasus related poems, which I will try to read later.Question: is Lermontov's language considered modern Russian? Thanks again, with much love

I'm glad, you liked it, Qing! I think Lermontov's language is modern, there is nothing unusual, but, of course, it's poetic. In the modern society people can speak very different languages depending on their general educational level.

How was your trip to Moscow? I understand, you visited some other places in Russia?

I'm enrolled in a six-week language course at the Pushkin Institute. ;) two weeks left, already planning to come back, to work preferably (and study in the evening;)) yes, I did a Lermontov-themed tour in the Caucasus, loved the experience.

What's your most striking impression from visiting Russia?

Well it's such a diverse, huge country... Allow me to generalise here: the hospitality (even in the circumstances that he/she knows you will not be able to reciprocate), the kindness, the dedication to work (even the most humble kinds of work), the faith (towards the religion) ... I'm yet to reflect upon that. very good question, Elena!

Interesting. I think you felt the heart of our land :)

Xiaoqing He, did you like Pyatigorsk? (I live in this town)

Привет Ира. Мне понравилось, да... Есть несколько университета, хотела повестить, но время не была