Dears readers and subscribers, this week I translated the beautiful poem “Son and Mother” written by Alexander Blok in October 1906. This poem about a young son leaving his parents home to go protect his homeland, shows us the bond between son and mother. To complete the poem I added a few words about Alexander Blok and the painting “A woman with a boy in the forest” by Ivan Shishkin
I hope you’ll enjoy that poem and painting as much as I did.
Visit the page Russian Poetry to find all the poem we have translated. Do not forget the whole translation of the poem is freely available to all by following any of the links to the poem.
- A few words about Alexander Blok
- Painting “A woman with a boy in the forest” by Ivan Shishkin
- Translation of the poem “Son and mother” by Alexander Blok in English with English and Russian side by side
A few words about Alexander Blok
Alexander Aleksandrovich Blok was a prominent figure in Russian literature during the Silver Age. Born on November 16, (28) 1880, in St. Petersburg, which was then part of the Russian Empire, Blok made significant contributions as a poet, writer, publicist, playwright, translator, and literary critic. He played a pivotal role in the development of Russian symbolism, a movement that sought to express abstract and spiritual ideas through poetic language and imagery.
Blok’s works are considered classics of Russian literature in the 20th century, and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest representatives of Russian symbolism. His poetry often explored themes of love, spirituality, and the tumultuous social and political climate of his time. Blok’s writing style was characterized by its lyricism, rich symbolism, and introspective exploration of the human condition.
Tragically, Blok’s life was cut short, and he passed away on August 7, 1921, in Petrograd, which later became known as Leningrad and is now called St. Petersburg (RSFSR). Despite his premature death, Alexander Blok’s contributions to Russian literature continue to influence and inspire generations of readers and writers.
Painting “A woman with a boy in the forest” by Ivan Shishkin
Translation of the poem “Son and mother” by Alexander Blok in English with English and Russian side by side
| Сын и мать | Son and mother |
| Переведено как Akirill.com 25 ноября 2023 г. | Translated by Akirill.com Nov 25, 2023 |
| Моей матери | My mother |
| Сын осеняется крестом. | The son makes the sign of the cross. |
| Сын покидает отчий дом. | The son leaves his father’s house. |
| В песнях матери оставленной | In the songs of the abandoned mother |
| Золотая радость есть: | There is golden joy: |
| Только б он пришел прославленный, | If only he would come back glorified, |
| Только б радость перенесть! | Only it would be a joy to endure! |
| Вот, в доспехе ослепительном, | Here, in dazzling armor, |
| Слышно, ходит сын во мгле, | You can hear the son walking in the darkness, |
| Дух свой предал небожителям, | He delivered his spirit to the inhabitants of heaven, |
| Сердце — матери-земле. | His Heart to mother earth. |
| Читать далее … | Continue reading … |
< < < Au sujet des prouesses, des exploits, de la gloire (Ru/Fr) / About prowess, exploits, glory (Ru/Eng) / О доблестях, о подвигах, о славе (Рус/Анг.) / (Рус/ Фра.)
L’étrangère (Ru/Fr) /Stranger (Ru/Eng) / Незнакомка (Рус/Анг.) / (Рус/ Фра.) > > >
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