Poem “My God, how terrible young life is” by Alexander Blok translated to English with English and Russian side by side

Lire en Français

Русская литература – Русская поэзия – Все Стихи Александра Блока – Устаревшие русские слова и их значение
Littérature Russe – Poésie Russe – Poèmes par Alexandre Blok – Mots russes obsolètes et leur signification
Russian Literature – Russian Poetry – Poems by Alexander Blok – Obsolete Russian Words and their meaning

< < < Le petit lièvre (Ru/Fr) / The little hare (Ru/Eng) / Зайчик (Рус/Анг.) / (Рус/ Фра.)
Noël (Ru/Fr) / Christmas (Ru/Eng) / Рождество (Рус/Анг.) / (Рус/ Фра.) > > >

Translation of the poem “My God, how terrible young life is” by Alexander Blok in English with English and Russian side by side
Short analysis of the poem “My God, how terrible young life is” by Alexander Blok

Translation of the poem “My God, how terrible young life is” by Alexander Blok in English with English and Russian side by side

Боже, как жизнь молодая ужасна, Александр Блок	My God, how terrible young life is

	Translated by Akirill.com Dec 2, 2023

Боже, как жизнь молодая ужасна,	My God, how terrible young life is,
Как упоительно дышит она,	How delightfully it breathes,
Сколько в ней счастья и горя напрасно	How much happiness and sorrow there are in vain,
Борются в страшных конвульсиях сна!	Fighting in the terrible convulsions of sleep!
Смерти зовешь и бессильной рукою	You call for death and with a helpless hand
Тщетно пытаешься жизнь перервать,	You try in vain to interrupt your life,
Тщетно желаешь покончить с собою,	In vain, you wish to commit suicide,
Смерти искать, желаний искать…	To seek death, to seek desires…
Пусть же скорее мгла темной ночи	Let the darkness of the dark night soon
Скроет желанья, дела и разврат,	hide desires, deeds and debauchery,
О, как горят прекрасные очи, —	Oh, how beautiful eyes burn, –
Смерти не рад, жизни не рад.	I’m not happy about death, I’m not happy about life .
Страшную жизнь забудем, подруга,	Let’s forget this terrible life, friend,
Грудь твою страстно колышет любовь,	Your chest is passionately swaying with love,
О, успокойся в объятиях друга,	Oh, calm down in the arms of a friend,
Страсть разжигает холодную кровь.	Passion ignites cold blood.
Наши уста в поцелуях сольются,	Our lips will merge in kisses,
Буду дышать поцелуем твоим,	I will breathe your kiss,
Боже, как скоро часы пронесутся…	My God, how quickly the hours will fly by…
Боже, какою я страстью томим!..	My God, what a passion I am tormented by!..

Февраль–март 1898	February-March 1898

Short analysis of the poem “My God, how terrible young life is” by Alexander Blok

The poem “My God, how terrible young life is” holds great significance in the early works of Alexander Blok. Written in 1899, when the poet was just 18 years old, it showcases his immense talent even at a young age. Despite still being a student, Blok delved into the philosophical realm, contemplating the meaning of life and seeking answers in various philosophical teachings and this poem becomes the prelude to a collection dedicated to the Beautiful Lady..

Blok’s poem resonates with a raw and genuine emotion, devoid of mythical imagery. It is worth noting that not many of the poet’s works delve into personal feelings and real-life heroes, making these lines particularly precious to enthusiasts of Russian poetry.

This particular work which reflects the personal experiences of the eighteen-year-old poet, intertwines the backdrop of his relationship with Ksenia Mikhailovna Sadovskaya, who was significantly older than him. Although their connection held a prelude reminiscent of the fate of Yesenin and Duncan, it did not blossom into a lasting family relationship.

In these poignant lines, Blok captures the essence of life and love at the tender age of 18. Through his words, the author creates a tapestry of contrasting emotions: happiness and grief, horror and rapture. It is a tumultuous time for the young heart, as it has already experienced and learned so much, yet still craves the unknown. The soul yearns for the sacred, while the body seeks to explore the uncharted. This inherent contradiction gives rise to suffering, as the immensity of life proves impossible to fully embrace. At this crossroads, the author finds himself torn between succumbing to unfulfilled desires and disappointment, and the pursuit of new aspirations, a natural inclination for a young man. Through his reflection, Blok delves into the complexities of youth, portraying the delicate dance between hope and longing, passion and uncertainty.

We put a lot of effort into the quality of the articles and translations, support us with a like and a subscription or sponsor us if you like them. We are also on Facebook and Twitter

Check out our Last Posts

Translation of the poem “My God, how terrible young life is” by Alexander Blok in English with English and Russian side by side

Short analysis of the poem “My God, how terrible young life is” by Alexander Blok

Leave a comment Cancel reply