{"id":24823,"date":"2026-07-09T23:15:54","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T03:15:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eastwestliteraryforum.com\/rus\/?post_type=world&p=24823"},"modified":"2026-07-10T01:02:24","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T05:02:24","slug":"vladimir-efroimson-poems","status":"publish","type":"world","link":"https:\/\/eastwestliteraryforum.com\/rus\/world\/vladimir-efroimson-poems\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0412\u043b\u0430\u0434\u0438\u043c\u0438\u0440 \u042d\u0444\u0440\u043e\u0438\u043c\u0441\u043e\u043d. \u0421\u0442\u0438\u0445\u0438 \u0441 \u043f\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0432\u043e\u0434\u0430\u043c\u0438 \u043d\u0430 \u0430\u043d\u0433\u043b\u0438\u0439\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u041c. \u0424\u0440\u0438\u0434\u043c\u0430\u043d"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u041f\u0440\u043e \u043d\u0435\u0433\u043e<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2026\u0410 \u043e\u043d \u0432\u0441\u044e \u043d\u043e\u0447\u044c \u0441\u0438\u0434\u0435\u043b \u043d\u0430 \u043a\u0443\u0445\u043d\u0435,
\n\u0441\u043c\u043e\u0442\u0440\u0435\u043b \u0432 \u043e\u043a\u043d\u043e, \u043a\u0430\u043a \u0432 \u0442\u0435\u043b\u0435\u0441\u043a\u043e\u043f,
\n\u0432 \u043f\u0443\u0441\u0442\u0443\u044e \u0442\u044c\u043c\u0443, \u043a\u0443\u0434\u0430 \u0432\u0441\u0451 \u0440\u0443\u0445\u043d\u0435\u0442:
\n\u0438 \u044d\u0442\u043e\u0442 \u0440\u043e\u0442, \u0438 \u044d\u0442\u043e\u0442 \u043b\u043e\u0431,
\n\u0438 \u0442\u043e, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u0442\u0430\u043c, \u0437\u0430 \u043b\u043e\u0431\u043d\u043e\u0439 \u043a\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c\u044e,
\n\u0438 \u0442\u043e, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u043f\u044f\u043b\u0438\u0442\u0441\u044f \u0432\u043e \u043c\u0440\u0430\u043a,
\n\u0438 \u0442\u043e, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u043f\u043e\u0437\u0436\u0435, \u043d\u0430 \u043f\u043e\u0433\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0435,
\n\u0441\u043c\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0437\u0438\u0442 \u043f\u044c\u044f\u043d\u0435\u043d\u044c\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u0434\u0443\u0440\u0430\u043a\u2026
\n 
\n\u041c\u0438\u0440 \u0432 \u0442\u0435\u043b\u0435\u0441\u043a\u043e\u043f\u0435 \u0431\u044b\u043b \u043e\u0433\u0440\u043e\u043c\u0435\u043d \u2013
\n\u043c\u0435\u0436\u0433\u0430\u043b\u0430\u043a\u0442\u0438\u0447\u0435\u0441\u043a\u0438 \u043f\u0443\u0441\u0442\u043e\u0439 \u2013
\n\u0438 \u043b\u0438\u0448\u044c \u0444\u043e\u043d\u0430\u0440\u044c \u043d\u0430 \u0434\u0430\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0435\u043c \u0434\u043e\u043c\u0435
\n\u0431\u043e\u0440\u043e\u043b\u0441\u044f \u0441 \u0432\u0435\u0447\u043d\u043e\u0439 \u0442\u0435\u043c\u043d\u043e\u0442\u043e\u0439.
\n\u0412\u0441\u044e \u043f\u0443\u0441\u0442\u043e\u0442\u0443 \u0437\u0430\u043f\u043e\u043b\u043d\u0438\u043b \u0445\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0434,
\n\u0442\u043e\u0447\u043d\u0435\u0439, \u043e\u0442\u0441\u0443\u0442\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0438\u0435 \u0442\u0435\u043f\u043b\u0430.
\n\u0411\u044b\u043b \u043c\u0438\u0440 \u043f\u043e\u043a\u0430 \u0447\u0442\u043e \u043d\u0435 \u0440\u0430\u0441\u043a\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0442
\n\u0437\u0430 \u043f\u043b\u0451\u043d\u043a\u043e\u0439 \u0442\u043e\u043d\u043a\u043e\u044e \u0441\u0442\u0435\u043a\u043b\u0430.
\n\u0411\u044b\u043b \u043f\u043e\u0434\u043e\u043a\u043e\u043d\u043d\u0438\u043a \u0441\u043b\u0438\u0448\u043a\u043e\u043c \u0443\u0437\u043a\u0438\u043c\u2026
\n 
\n\u041f\u043e\u043b\u0451\u0442 \u2013 \u043d\u0435\u0434\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0433 \u0438 \u0441\u043c\u0435\u0448\u043e\u043d.
\n\u0418 \u0441\u043a\u0432\u043e\u0437\u044c \u0443\u0434\u0430\u0440 \u0438 \u043f\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0433\u0440\u0443\u0437\u043a\u0438
\n\u0432 \u043e\u0442\u043a\u0440\u044b\u0442\u044b\u0439 \u043a\u043e\u0441\u043c\u043e\u0441 \u0432\u044b\u0448\u0435\u043b \u043e\u043d.
\n <\/p>\n

* * *<\/p>\n

\u0413\u0434\u0435-\u0442\u043e \u0442\u0430\u043c, \u0432 \u0433\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0435, \u0432 \u0433\u043b\u0443\u0431\u0438\u043d\u0435 \u0433\u0434\u0435-\u0442\u043e
\n\u0441\u0443\u0449\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0443\u044e\u0442, \u0436\u0438\u0432\u0443\u0442 \u0432\u0441\u0435, \u0441 \u043a\u0435\u043c \u0431\u044b\u043b \u043a\u043e\u0433\u0434\u0430-\u0442\u043e,
\n\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u044f\u0442 \u0432 \u0442\u0435\u043c\u043d\u043e\u0442\u0435 \u2013 \u0432\u0435\u0434\u044c \u0442\u0430\u043c \u043d\u0435\u0442 \u0441\u0432\u0435\u0442\u0430,
\n\u0438 \u0437\u0432\u0443\u0447\u0430\u0442 \u043e\u0431\u0438\u0436\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e-\u0432\u0438\u043d\u043e\u0432\u0430\u0442\u043e.
\n 
\n\u0412\u0438\u043d\u043e\u0432\u0430\u0442\u044b \u0432\u0441\u0435 \u2013 \u0438 \u043e\u043d\u0438, \u0438 \u044f, \u2013 \u043d\u043e
\n\u0438\u0445 \u0443\u043f\u0440\u0451\u043a\u0438 \u043a\u043e \u043c\u043d\u0435 \u043a\u0430\u0436\u0443\u0442\u0441\u044f \u0432\u0435\u0441\u043e\u043c\u0435\u0439,
\n\u0430 \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0437\u043d\u0430\u043d\u044c\u044f \u0432\u0438\u043d\u044b \u0437\u0432\u0443\u0447\u0430\u0442 \u043d\u0435\u044f\u0432\u043d\u043e \u2013
\n\u043e\u0442\u0434\u0430\u043b\u0435\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u0448\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0445 \u0432 \u043f\u0443\u0441\u0442\u043e\u043c \u0434\u043e\u043c\u0435.
\n 
\n\u041f\u043e\u043c\u043e\u043b\u0447\u0438, \u043f\u043e\u043f\u0440\u043e\u0431\u0443\u0439 \u043d\u0435 \u043c\u0430\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0438\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f,
\n\u0432 \u043f\u043e\u043a\u0430\u044f\u043d\u043d\u043e-\u043e\u0431\u0438\u0436\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e\u043c \u0442\u0438\u0445\u043e\u043c \u0445\u043e\u0440\u0435
\n\u0440\u0430\u0437\u043b\u0438\u0447\u0438\u0442\u044c \u0433\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0441\u0430 (\u0430 \u0437\u0430 \u043d\u0438\u043c\u0438 \u043b\u0438\u0446\u0430),
\n\u0440\u0430\u0437\u043e\u0431\u0440\u0430\u0442\u044c \u043d\u0430 \u043e\u0442\u0434\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u044b\u0435 \u0432\u043e\u043b\u043d\u044b \u043c\u043e\u0440\u0435.
\n 
\n\u042d\u0442\u0438 \u0448\u0451\u043f\u043e\u0442, \u0438 \u0440\u043e\u043f\u043e\u0442, \u0438 \u043a\u0440\u0438\u043a, \u0438 \u0441\u0442\u043e\u043d\u044b
\n\u0441 \u043e\u0441\u043b\u0430\u0431\u043b\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0435\u043c \u0437\u0440\u0435\u043d\u044c\u044f \u0437\u0432\u0443\u0447\u0430\u0442 \u044f\u0441\u043d\u0435\u0435…
\n\u0412\u0434\u0440\u0443\u0433 \u0432\u0441\u043f\u043b\u044b\u0432\u0451\u0442 \u0447\u0442\u043e \u0431\u044b\u043b\u043e \u0432\u043e \u0432\u0440\u0435\u043c\u044f \u043e\u043d\u043e,
\n\u0437\u0430\u0433\u043b\u0443\u0448\u0438\u0442 \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0432\u044b\u0447\u043d\u0443\u044e \u0430\u0445\u0438\u043d\u0435\u044e.
\n 
\n\u0418 \u043d\u0435 \u0441\u0442\u0430\u0440\u0447\u0435\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0439 \u043f\u0430\u043c\u044f\u0442\u0438 \u0432\u0435\u0434\u044c \u043a\u0430\u043f\u0440\u0438\u0437\u044b \u2013
\n\u044d\u0442\u043e\u0442 \u0448\u0443\u043c, \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0431\u0438\u0432\u0430\u044e\u0449\u0438\u0439\u0441\u044f \u043e\u0442\u0442\u0443\u0434\u0430,
\n\u043f\u043e\u0445\u043e\u0440\u043e\u043d\u0435\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u0437\u0430\u0436\u0438\u0432\u043e \u0441\u0442\u0443\u0447\u0438\u0442 \u0441\u043d\u0438\u0437\u0443,
\n\u0438 \u043a\u0440\u0438\u0447\u0438\u0442, \u0438 \u0448\u0435\u043f\u0447\u0435\u0442, \u0438 \u0432\u0435\u0440\u0438\u0442 \u0432 \u0447\u0443\u0434\u043e.
\n <\/p>\n

\u0422\u0438\u0445\u0438\u0439 \u0432\u0435\u0447\u0435\u0440 \u0432 \u041b\u043e\u043d\u0434\u043e\u043d\u0435<\/strong>
\n 
\n\u0412\u043e\u0442 \u043a\u0438\u0442\u0430\u0435\u0446 \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0448\u0451\u043b,
\n\u0441\u043b\u0435\u0433\u043a\u0430 \u0448\u0443\u0440\u0448\u0430 \u2013
\n\u0442\u043e \u043b\u0438 \u0448\u0451\u043b\u043a \u0440\u0443\u043a\u0430\u0432\u0430,
\n\u0442\u043e \u043b\u044c \u0441\u0443\u043a\u043d\u043e \u043f\u0438\u0434\u0436\u0430\u043a\u0430 \u2013
\n\u0438 \u043f\u043e\u0445\u043e\u0434\u043a\u0430 \u0435\u0433\u043e
\n\u0442\u0430\u043a \u0445\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0448\u0430 \u2013
\n\u0442\u043e \u043b\u044c \u043a\u0443\u0440\u043d\u0443\u043b \u0447\u0435\u0433\u043e,
\n\u0442\u043e \u043b\u044c \u043f\u043e\u0434\u0434\u0430\u043b \u0441\u043b\u0435\u0433\u043a\u0430.
\n 
\n\u041b\u043e\u043d\u0434\u043e\u043d. \u0421\u0442\u043e\u043b\u0438\u043a \u043d\u0430 \u0443\u043b\u0438\u0446\u0435.
\n\u041f\u044c\u044e \u043f\u0438\u0432\u043a\u043e \u2013
\n\u0442\u043e \u043b\u0438 \u0432 \u0421\u043e\u0445\u043e \u0432\u0435\u0447\u0435\u0440,
\n\u0442\u043e \u043b\u044c \u0447\u0451\u0440\u0442-\u0442\u0435 \u0433\u0434\u0435,
\n\u0434\u0436\u0430\u0437 \u0432 \u0441\u043e\u0441\u0435\u0434\u043d\u0435\u043c \u0431\u0430\u0440\u0435
\n\u0437\u0432\u0443\u0447\u0438\u0442 \u043b\u0435\u0433\u043a\u043e,
\n\u0442\u0430\u043a \u043b\u0435\u0433\u043a\u043e, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u043a\u0430\u0436\u0435\u0442\u0441\u044f:
\n\u0431\u044b\u0442\u044c \u0431\u0435\u0434\u0435.
\n 
\n\u0422\u0430\u043a \u0432 \u043a\u0438\u043d\u043e \u0431\u0435\u0437\u0437\u0430\u0431\u043e\u0442\u043d\u044b\u0439
\n\u0437\u0430 \u043a\u0430\u0434\u0440\u043e\u043c \u0437\u0432\u0443\u043a
\n\u0432\u0434\u0440\u0443\u0433 \u043d\u0430\u0432\u043e\u0434\u0438\u0442 \u0441\u0442\u0440\u0430\u0445
\n\u0438 \u0431\u0440\u043e\u0441\u0430\u0435\u0442 \u0432 \u043f\u043e\u0442,
\n\u0438 \u0442\u044b \u0436\u0434\u0451\u0448\u044c \u2013
\n\u044d\u0442\u043e \u0441\u0430\u043c\u043e\u0435 \u0441\u043b\u043e\u0432\u043e \u00ab\u0432\u0434\u0440\u0443\u0433\u00bb
\n\u0447\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0437 \u043a\u0430\u0434\u0440, \u0447\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0437 \u0434\u0432\u0430
\n\u0441\u0432\u043e\u0451 \u0432\u043e\u0437\u044c\u043c\u0451\u0442.
\n 
\n\u0418 \u043a\u0438\u0442\u0430\u0435\u0446 \u0445\u043c\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e\u0439,
\n\u043d\u0435\u0433\u0440\u043e\u043c\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u0434\u0436\u0430\u0437,
\n\u043f\u0438\u0432\u0430 \u0442\u0435\u0440\u043f\u043a\u0430\u044f \u0433\u043e\u0440\u0435\u0447\u044c,
\n\u043a\u0430\u043a \u0441\u0447\u0430\u0441\u0442\u044c\u044f \u0432\u043a\u0443\u0441\u2026
\n\u041c\u043e\u0436\u0435\u0442 \u0431\u044b\u0442\u044c, \u043e\u0431\u043e\u0439\u0434\u0451\u0442\u0441\u044f
\n\u043d\u0430 \u044d\u0442\u043e\u0442 \u0440\u0430\u0437 \u2013
\n\u044f \u0442\u0430\u043a\u0438\u0445 \u043c\u043e\u043c\u0435\u043d\u0442\u043e\u0432
\n\u0432\u0441\u0435\u0433\u0434\u0430 \u0431\u043e\u044e\u0441\u044c.
\n 
\n\u041d\u0443 \u043e\u0442\u043a\u0443\u0434\u0430 \u0431\u044b \u0436\u0434\u0430\u0442\u044c
\n\u0441\u0435\u0439\u0447\u0430\u0441 \u0431\u0435\u0434\u0443?
\n\u0422\u0438\u0445\u0438\u0439 \u0432\u0435\u0447\u0435\u0440, \u041b\u043e\u043d\u0434\u043e\u043d,
\n\u0448\u0443\u0440\u0448\u0430\u0449\u0438\u0439 \u0448\u0451\u043b\u043a\u2026
\n\u042f \u0441\u0435\u0439\u0447\u0430\u0441 \u0434\u043e \u043e\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044f
\n\u043f\u0435\u0448\u043a\u043e\u043c \u0434\u043e\u0439\u0434\u0443.
\n\u0418 \u0443\u0441\u043d\u0443. \u0418 \u0432\u0441\u0451 \u0431\u0443\u0434\u0435\u0442
\n\u0445\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0448\u043e.
\n <\/p>\n

* * *
\n 
\n\u041e\u0434\u0438\u043d \u0443\u0434\u0430\u0440…
\n\u0418 \u043d\u0438\u043a\u0430\u043a\u0438\u0445 \u0441\u043e\u043c\u043d\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0439,
\n\u043d\u0438 \u0441\u043e\u0436\u0430\u043b\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0439 \u043d\u0430\u043c \u043d\u0435 \u0438\u0441\u043f\u044b\u0442\u0430\u0442\u044c \u2013
\n\u0441\u043f\u043e\u043a\u043e\u0439\u043d\u0430 \u043f\u043e\u0442\u0440\u0435\u0432\u043e\u0436\u0435\u043d\u043d\u0430\u044f \u0433\u043b\u0430\u0434\u044c,
\n\u0435\u0434\u0432\u0430 \u043c\u0438\u043d\u0443\u043b\u043e \u043d\u0435\u0441\u043a\u043e\u043b\u044c\u043a\u043e \u043c\u0433\u043d\u043e\u0432\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0439,
\n\u0438 \u043a\u0430\u043c\u0435\u043d\u044c \u043e\u043f\u0443\u0441\u0442\u0438\u043b\u0441\u044f \u0432 \u0433\u043b\u0443\u0431\u0438\u043d\u0443:
\n\u0432\u043e\u0434\u0430 \u0441\u043f\u043e\u043a\u043e\u0439\u043d\u0430 — \u043e\u043d \u0438\u0434\u0435\u0442 \u043a\u043e \u0434\u043d\u0443.<\/p>\n

\u042f\u043d\u0432\u0430\u0440\u044c 1996
\n <\/p>\n

* * *
\n 
\n\u041f\u043b\u0430\u043a\u0430\u043b, \u043a\u043e\u0433\u0434\u0430 \u0445\u043e\u0440\u043e\u043d\u0438\u043b \u043e\u0442\u0446\u0430,
\n\u0438 \u043a\u043e\u0433\u0434\u0430 \u0443\u0437\u043d\u0430\u043b \u043e\u0431 \u0438\u0437\u043c\u0435\u043d\u0430\u0445 \u0436\u0435\u043d\u044b,
\n\u0438 \u043a\u043e\u0433\u0434\u0430 \u0432\u0434\u0440\u0443\u0433 \u043f\u043e\u043d\u044f\u043b \u2013 \u0434\u0440\u0443\u0437\u044c\u044f \u0443\u0448\u043b\u0438,
\n\u0438 \u043a\u043e\u0433\u0434\u0430 \u043e\u0441\u043e\u0437\u043d\u0430\u043b, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u0445\u043e\u0447\u0435\u0442\u0441\u044f \u0436\u0438\u0442\u044c\u2026
\n\u0418 \u0441\u043b\u0451\u0437\u044b \u043d\u0430\u043a\u0430\u0442\u044b\u0432\u0430\u043b\u0438\u0441\u044c \u043e\u0442\u0442\u043e\u0433\u043e,
\n\u0447\u0442\u043e \u0441\u043b\u044b\u0448\u0430\u043b\u0441\u044f \u0433\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0441: \u00ab\u0422\u044b \u043e\u0434\u0438\u043d
\n\u0434\u043e \u043a\u043e\u043d\u0446\u0430 \u0442\u0432\u043e\u0438\u0445 \u0434\u043d\u0435\u0439, \u043d\u043e \u043d\u0438\u043a\u043e\u0433\u0434\u0430
\n\u043d\u0435 \u0443\u0434\u0430\u0441\u0442\u0441\u044f \u043e\u0441\u0442\u0430\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f \u043e\u0434\u043d\u043e\u043c\u0443!\u00bb
\n\u0421\u043c\u0435\u044f\u043b\u0441\u044f, \u043a\u043e\u0433\u0434\u0430 \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0445\u043e\u0434\u0438\u043b \u0434\u043e\u043c\u043e\u0439,
\n\u0438 \u043a\u043e\u0433\u0434\u0430 \u0443\u0437\u043d\u0430\u0432\u0430\u043b \u043e\u0431 \u0438\u0437\u043c\u0435\u043d\u0430\u0445 \u0436\u0435\u043d\u044b,
\n\u0438 \u0441 \u0434\u0440\u0443\u0437\u044c\u044f\u043c\u0438 \u0443\u0448\u0435\u0434\u0448\u0438\u043c\u0438 \u0432\u043e\u0434\u043a\u0443 \u043f\u0438\u043b,
\n\u0438 \u0437\u0430\u0431\u044b\u0432\u0430\u043b, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u0445\u043e\u0447\u0435\u0442\u0441\u044f \u0436\u0438\u0442\u044c.
\n\u0418 \u0441\u043c\u0435\u0445 \u0434\u0443\u0448\u0438\u043b \u0442\u043e\u043b\u044c\u043a\u043e \u043e\u0442\u0442\u043e\u0433\u043e,
\n\u0447\u0442\u043e \u0433\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0441, \u0442\u0432\u0435\u0440\u0434\u0438\u0432\u0448\u0438\u0439: \u00ab\u0422\u044b \u043e\u0434\u0438\u043d!\u00bb,
\n\u0432\u0441\u0451 \u0431\u0443\u0431\u043d\u0438\u043b \u044d\u0442\u0443 \u0444\u0440\u0430\u0437\u0443 \u043e\u043f\u044f\u0442\u044c \u0438 \u043e\u043f\u044f\u0442\u044c,
\n\u043d\u0435 \u0434\u0430\u0432\u0430\u044f \u043e\u0441\u0442\u0430\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f \u043e\u0434\u043d\u043e\u043c\u0443.<\/p>\n

\u0410\u043f\u0440\u0435\u043b\u044c 1993
\n <\/p>\n

About Him<\/strong><\/p>\n

…And he sat in the kitchen all night,
\nstaring out the window as if through a telescope,
\ninto the empty dark, where everything will collapse:
\nthis mouth, and this forehead,
\nand what lies there, behind the frontal bone,
\nand what stares into the blackness,
\nand what later, at the cemetery,
\nsome drunken fool will mumble…
\n 
\nThe world in the telescope was vast\u2014
\nintergalactically empty\u2014
\nand only a streetlamp on a distant building
\nfought against the eternal darkness.
\nThe emptiness was filled with cold,
\nor rather, the absence of warmth.
\nThe world was not yet shattered
\nbehind the thin film of glass.
\nThe windowsill was too narrow…
\n 
\nThe flight\u2014brief and absurd.
\nAnd through the impact and the G-forces,
\nhe stepped out into open space.<\/p>\n

 
\nSomewhere There<\/strong><\/p>\n

Somewhere there, in the head, in the deep somewhere,
\nall those I was once with exist, they live,
\nthey speak in the dark\u2014for there is no light there\u2014
\nand their voices sound offended and guilty.
\n 
\nEveryone is guilty\u2014they are, and I am\u2014but
\ntheir reproaches toward me seem weightier,
\nwhile my confessions of guilt come through faintly\u2014
\na distant rustle in an empty house.
\n 
\nBe quiet, try not to curse,
\nin that repentant-offended quiet choir
\nto distinguish voices (and behind them, faces),
\nto break the sea into separate waves.
\nThese whispers, and murmurs, and cries, and groans
\ngrow clearer as eyesight fades…
\nSuddenly what once was will surface,
\ndrowning out the usual nonsense.
\n 
\nAnd it’s not just the whims of an old man\u2019s memory\u2014
\nthis noise, breaking through from over there,
\nburied alive, knocks from below,
\nand cries, and whispers, and believes in a miracle.
\n <\/p>\n

A Quiet Evening in London<\/strong>
\n 
\nA Chinese man passes,
\nwith a soft, rustling sound\u2014
\nmight be silk of his sleeve,
\nor the wool of his coat\u2014
\nand his gait has a grace
\nthat could only astound\u2014
\ndid he smoke something strange,
\nor is he half-drowned?
\nLondon. A table outside.
\nI drink my beer\u2014
\nis it Soho at dusk,
\nor God knows where,
\njazz from the bar next door
\nfloats light and clear,
\nso light, it seems
\nthat danger is near.
\nLike in films, that carefree
\nsound off-screen
\nsuddenly chills the blood,
\nmakes you sweat with dread,
\nand you wait\u2014that word
\n\u201csudden\u201d is keen
\nto strike through the frame,
\nor two, ahead.
\nAnd the drunken Chinese man,
\nthe quiet jazz,
\nthe bitter tang of ale
\nlike a taste of bliss\u2026
\nPerhaps this time
\nit won\u2019t come to pass\u2014
\nI\u2019m always afraid
\nof moments like this.
\nBut why would trouble
\ncome here now?
\nQuiet evening, London,
\nrustling silk\u2026
\nI\u2019ll walk to my hotel,
\nand somehow
\nI\u2019ll fall asleep.
\nAnd all will be well.
\n 
\n* * *<\/p>\n

One stroke\u2014
\nand no room for doubt,
\nno regrets for us to feel at all\u2014
\nthe troubled surface settles into calm,
\nbarely a few moments have passed,
\nand the stone has sunk to the deep:
\nthe water is still\u2014it goes to the bottom.
\n 
\n* * *<\/p>\n

I wept when I buried my father,
\nand when I learned of my wife’s betrayals,
\nand when I suddenly knew\u2014my friends were gone,
\nand when I realized I wanted to live\u2026
\nAnd the tears would well up because
\nI heard a voice: \u201cYou are alone
\nuntil the end of your days, but never
\nwill you manage to stay alone!\u201d
\nI laughed when I came through the door,
\nand when I learned of my wife’s betrayals,
\nand drank vodka with departed friends,
\nforgetting that I wanted to live.
\nAnd laughter choked me only because
\na voice that kept murmuring: «You are alone!»
\nkept droning that phrase over and over,
\nnever letting me be on my own.
\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":24824,"parent":0,"template":"","world-type":[],"class_list":["post-24823","world","type-world","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eastwestliteraryforum.com\/rus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/world\/24823","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eastwestliteraryforum.com\/rus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/world"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eastwestliteraryforum.com\/rus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/world"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/eastwestliteraryforum.com\/rus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/world\/24823\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24840,"href":"https:\/\/eastwestliteraryforum.com\/rus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/world\/24823\/revisions\/24840"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eastwestliteraryforum.com\/rus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24824"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eastwestliteraryforum.com\/rus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24823"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"world-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eastwestliteraryforum.com\/rus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/world-type?post=24823"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}