Wayne Pernu. Retirement in Finntown. Russian translation by Marina Eskin

Also in Translations:

painting ROOM on a black rectangle
Nina Kossman "Room"
Wayne Pernu. Retirement in Finntown. Russian translation by Marina Eskin

 
 
I’ve checked out of my old life
and into a new
with a first-of the-month stipend
and a room with a view.

A one-room in Finntown
on the second floor
with a cubical fridge
and a sign on the door.

A self-contained kingdom,
a rarified hovel,
no shower to fix
or sidewalk to shovel.

Just a bed and a table
and a weekly let,
an ashtray and a remote
for the television set.

A blind for the window
when the cold morning’s break
but a clear view of the sunset
over Bailey’s lake.

Whole days for drinking
while the counsels convene
and never once thinking
what I might have been.
 
 
~ ~ ~
 
 
ВОЗРАЩЕНИЕ В ФИННТАУН
 

Выписался из жизни старой,
И в новую прописался,
комната с видом, пособие даром,
остальное меня не касается.

В Финнтауне комната целая
на втором этаже,
куб холодильника белый,
на двери табличка уже.

Чем не царство и благодать,
редкостная дыра,
Нет ванной – нечего починять,
Снег не сгребаю с утра.

Кровать, стол, стул,
просто, зато не тесно,
телевизионный пульт
достаю, не вставая с места.

Скрывая рассвет холодный,
на окнax шторы висят,
а вечером, вход свободный –
над озером Бейли закат.

Пока соц. работникам судьбы решать,
могу пить, хоть целый день,
а кем я мог бы в той жизни стать
мне даже и думать лень.

Translated into Russian by Marina Eskin

 
 

About the Author:

Wayne Pernu on EastWest Literary Forum
Wayne Pernu
Portland, OR, US

Wayne Pernu is an American poet who grew up in Minnesota and now lives in Portland, Oregon.

About the Translator:

218088430_10225884543528577_7640761300469319979_n (2) (1)
Marina Eskin
Boston, MA, USA

Marina Eskin was born in Leningrad (St. Petersburg). She is a physicist by training. Marina is the author of four books of poetry in Russian, her texts and translations appear in various print and online publications. She is a member of the editorial board of “Interpoesia” journal.

Wayne Pernu Уэйн Перну
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