AAudio Video
VLADIMIR VYSOTSKY (1938-1980)
COSMOS IN SONG
Not only about earthly matters did Vladimir Vysotsky care. He wrote a few songs about space travels and other cosmic affairs. No wonder that one of his songs portraits constellations. In our everyday speak we call them the Zodiac signs and a lot of people do believe these groups of stars influence our lives. Each name of a constellation is a metaphor as there are no real Scales or Pisces above our heads. Not so in the Vysotsky song – he personifies or animates each astronomical body and real fish and bulls fill the nightly skies. Here goes my translation of the Vysotsky Zodiac Signs song, performed in English by Michele Kanatous (USA).
ZODIAC SIGNS
There’s no abyss, black and dead, in the height,
Above us we find revelations!
We look at the Zodiac, starring at night,
And try to explain constellations
We gaze at the stars, having craned our necks,
We watch those twinkling projectors;
The stars in the skies form Man’s destiny tracks –
These tiny mysterious magical specks,
That care for us and protect us!
To soften the frosts, that rampage with no pause,
With no intention to gloat
Hot water, like vodka, Aquarius pours
Straight into the mouth of the Goat!
So winding and bright is the Universe stream!
It guides us or sends us a warning …
When March is so dark, so misty and dim
Throughout the skies Pisces stubbornly swim
Along Milky channels for spawning!
December has passed and the Archer in full
Ran short of his arrow gear.
In May on green grass the dispassionate Bull
Can peacefully graze with no fear!
In August his hunting the Lion begins,
He’s stalking the Ram, beastly grinning …
The Virgin is waving her hand to the Twins,
She sits on the Scales and she merrily swings,
As though the Scales are for swinging!
Sunrays light up skies like a wonderful torch
When darkness gets denser and denser.
And we can sit back and we calmly can watch
How Scorpio’s playing with Cancer!
The Man didn’t scold his Zodiac sign –
The stars never care for stigma! –
He mounted stars in the gems from the mine,
Today constellations in jewelry shine
And keep no more the enigma!
Performance
Gregory Taylor (USA).
Translated by George Tokarev
© GEORGE TOKAREV 1999
COSMOS IN SONG