Ленинград О. Мандельштам - Leningrad O. Mandelstam

Preface. Below is a slightly modified version of Osip Mandelstam's poem "Leningrad" as performed by Alla Pugacheva in the song with the same name.


I've returned to my city that I know by my fears,
By my red swollen glands of my childhood years.
You've returned here - so swallow now quickly
The fish oil of the river lamps of this city.

I've returned to my city that I know by my fears,
By my red swollen glands of my childhood years.
So recall now Leningrad's December day
When in sinister tar yolk is stirred in some way.

Refrain:
Leningrad, Leningrad!
I don't want, I don't want to die yet!
I still have, city, your addresses,
I will find by them dead men's voices.
Leningrad, Leningrad!
I don't want, I don't want to die yet!
You have my telephone numbers, my Leningrad,
I don't want, I don't want to die yet!

I've returned to my city that I know by my fears,
By my red swollen glands of my childhood years.
I live by a backstair and my mind's hit like hell
By the ring of a torn out, with wall plaster, doorbell.

I've returned to my city that I know by my fears,
By my red swollen glands of my childhood years.
And for my dear guests I wait all night away,
Stir my door chains like shackles, and continue to pray,

Leningrad, Leningrad!
I don't want, I don't want to die yet!
I still have, city, your addresses,
I will find by them dead men's voices.
Leningrad, Leningrad!
I don't want, I don't want to die yet!
You have my telephone numbers, my Leningrad,
I don't want, I don't want to die yet!

P.S. The alternative versions of the first two lines of each quatrain:

I've returned to my city of my childhood years,
Of my childhood swollen glands, fears, and tears...

To my city, familiar to the point of tears,
I've returned, it brings back childhood years and fears...

I've returned to my city bringing back memories
Of my childhood swollen glands, tears, and fears...
Original text in Russian:

"Ленинград"

Я вернулся в мой город, знакомый до слёз,
До прожилок, до детских припухлых желёз.

Ты вернулся сюда, так глотай же скорей
Рыбий жир ленинградских речных фонарей,

Узнавай же скорее декабрьский денёк,
Где к зловещему дёгтю подмешан желток.

Петербург! Я ещё не хочу умирать!
У тебя телефонов моих номера.

Петербург! У меня ещё есть адреса,
По которым найду мертвецов голоса.

Я на лестнице чёрной живу, и в висок
Ударяет мне вырванный с мясом звонок,

И всю ночь напролёт жду гостей дорогих,
Шевеля кандалами цепочек дверных.

Performance by Alla Pugacheva / Исполнение песни "Ленинград" - Алла Пугачёва - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzSA0w0BNOo