Marina Tsvetaeva: Conversation With A Genius

Marina Tsvetaeva

(1892 – 1941)

 

Conversation With A Genius

 

Like mountains – on this brow

Laurels of praise.

‘I can’t sing!’

- ‘You will!’ – ‘Sound

 

(Put me on a diet

of flour!)

Like milk -

Is gone from my breast.

 

Empty. Dry.

In full-blown spring?

I feel like a twig.’

- ‘That’s an old song!

 

Drop it, don’t blabber!’

‘From now on I’d better -

Pound gravel!’

- ‘All the more reason to sing!’

 

‘Am I a bullfinch,

To sing

Day in and day out?’

- ‘Even if you can’t,

My bird, sing!

 

Out of spite!’‘

What if I can’t

put two lines together?’

-’When could – anyone?!’ -

 

‘It’s torture!’ – ‘Bear it!’

‘A mown meadow -

My throat!’ ‘Then wheeze:

That’s a sound, too!’

 

‘It’s lions’ business

Not women’s.’ – ‘Children’s:

Though disembowelled -

Orpheus still sang!’

 

‘So, even in the grave?’

- ‘Under a headstone, too.’

‘I can’t sing!’

- ‘Sing about that!

 

 Marina Tsvetaeva poetry

kempis poetry magazine

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