The Ballad of Love

Svetlana Rakhimova
3 hours ago near Newcastle, England · 
To the glorious memory of Vladimir Vysotsky, 
Russian iconic singer-songwriter, 
who would have been 75 on the 25th of January, 2013.


The Ballad of Love
(by Vladimir Vysotsky)
When waters of the Flood returned 
To normal coastal lines,
From foam of receding waves 
The Love stepped quietly onto the surface 
And then dissolved, diluted in the air
Until the eon times...



And some odd characters that still exist
Fill their lungs with that incredible mix,
Expecting neither punishment nor fame,
And thinking that’s the normal way to breathe
They incidentally fall into rhythm
With someone else’s same uneven breathing. 


Refrain:
For lovers I will make the beds of meadows 
And let them sing their songs 
In real and in dreams!...
I breathe, which means I love!
I love, which means I live!


There will be lots of traveling and rove:
This land of love is greatest in the world!
It tests the Knights of Love in ever rigorous manner,
Imposing distances, demanding separations,
Depriving them of peace, content and sleep …
However these odd characters won’t flinch 
From paying any price, will put their lives in danger
To keep the magic and invisible link,


The thread, which tied them up together.
The clear winds of change would intoxicate them,
Would sweep them off their feet and resurrect
Because without love the life would be a waste
And breath would be a waste without love!


However lots of them who choked with love
Went to eternal silence, 
Will not respond no matter how we cry, - 
The idle talk and gossip will recount them
But that narration will be soaked in blood.
And we, we’ll burn the candles for the heroes
Who died of this unprecedented love …


Their souls shall roam forever in the flowers,
Their voices shall be destined to sing in tune,
They breathe the shared breath of the eternity,
And they will date with sigh on their lips
On frail bridges, passages and fords,
On narrow crossroads of the universe.


Refrain:
For lovers I will make the beds of meadows 
And let them sing their songs 
In real and in dreams!...
I breathe, which means I love!
I love, which means I live!
(translation by Svetlana Rakhimova)