Эмили Э. Дикинсон. Великолепный друг

Великолепный друг
Душа самой себе —
Или мучительный шпион —
Что враг — cмог дать тебе —

Сама себе монарх,
Измена не страшна —
Благоговейно — трепетать
Перед собой должна —



683

The Soul unto itself
Is an imperial friend —
Or the most agonizing Spy —
An Enemy — could send —

Secure against its own —
No treason it can fear —
Itself — its Sovereign — of itself
The Soul should stand in Awe —
               
                Emily Dickinson


"In this gnomic little poem there is an inner Soul that seems to be at the mercies of a more active soul. This active soul might be a lordly or "imperial friend" to the inner, but it might also be a corrosive, invasive force, a "Spy" – one Dickinson finds as "agonizing" as any sent by an enemy. Who better knows our vulnerabilities and weaknesses? Who best, then, to undermine our self sovereignty with agonies of doubts and fears?"
                Susan Kornfeld


                Стихи.ру 29 марта 2017 года