The Kind of World We Live in
You do not know – I would have built a paradise
For you to dwell in – had a paradise in heart.
I could have lavished it on you if you had let me,
If you had chosen love instead of taking life.
The trouble is that people are alone on earth,
“Is there any living soul?” – knight-errant calls
Alone in field, and as in legendary hero’s woe
Same call of ours gets no response at all.
They say, the sun gives life to universe,
But as it rises, doesn’t sun look spent?!
All things are dead, the dead lie everywhere,
Just solitary people - all in silence clad,
The kind of world we live in – all regrets.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Posted: Sep 2011
About this poem:
A poetic rendition of the last paragraph of “A Meek One” (A Fantastic Story) by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
Sitting by his wife’s coffin late at night the hero of story is lamenting the death of his wife who had committed suicide for which he is solely to blame. When it dawned upon him that he had made a mess of his marriage it was already too late – no time for making amends and restoring lost confidence. She had suffered enough to come to hate life and made up her mind already. He is left alone with bitter regrets – regrets and loneliness are going to be his sole companions from now on - all through his fault. “ ’People, love one another’ – who said that? Whose commandment is it? The pendulum is clicking unfeelingly, horridly. It’s two in the morning... Now, seriously, they’ll take her away tomorrow, AND WHATEVER SHALL I DO?” – is the question that haunts him, eating him up.
Comments (7)
For you to dwell in – had a paradise in heart.
I could have lavished it on you if you had let me,
If you had chosen love instead of taking life.
This is just so lovely Marikia, thank you for sharing. Only the other day I was reading some quotes by "Dostoyevsky"
Thank you for the rendition.
I liked this quote.
“If you want to be respected by others the great thing is to respect yourself. Only by that, only by self-respect will you compel others to respect you.”
Fyodor Dostoyevsky
You have certainly penned a poem of rare poignancy from your adaptation of the Dostoyevsky narrative... a treat indeed.
Best wishes
Bill
third reading. Like vintage wine whose taste is sweeter
with age. Thank you dear for your long standing
dedication in translating these fine works.
Cafe