Ochi Chyornye - Poem (original Version By Hrebinka)

Poem (original Version By Hrebinka)

Russian Transliteration loose English interpretation
1.
Очи чёрные, очи страстные
Очи жгучие и прекрасные
Как люблю я вас, как боюсь я вас
Знать, увидел вас я в недобрый час
2.
Ох, недаром вы глубины темней!
Вижу траур в вас по душе моей,
Вижу пламя в вас я победное:
Сожжено на нём сердце бедное.
3.
Но не грустен я, не печален я,
Утешительна мне судьба моя:
Всё, что лучшего в жизни Бог дал нам,
В жертву отдал я огневым глазам!
1.
Ochi chornyye, ochi strastnyye
Ochi zhguchiye i prekrasnyye
Kak lyublyu ya vas, kak boyus' ya vas
Znat' uvidel vas ya v nedobryi chas
2.
Okh nedarom vy glubiny temnei
Vizhu traur v vas po dushe moyei
Vizhu plamya v vas ya pobednoye
Sozhzheno na nyom serdtse bednoye
3.
No ne grusten ya, ne pechalen ya
Uteshitel'na mne sud'ba moya
Vsyo chto luchshevo v zhizni Bog dal nam
V zhertvu otdal ya ognevym glazam!
1.
Dark and burning eyes, Dark as midnight skies
Full of passion flame, full of lovely game
I'm in love with you, I'm afraid of you.
Days when I met you made me sad and blue.
2.
Oh, not for nothing are you darker than the deep!
I see mourning for my soul in you,
I see a triumphant flame in you:
A poor heart immolated in it.
3.
But I am not sad, I am not sorrowful,
My fate is soothing to me:
All that is best in life that God gave us,
In sacrifice I returned to the fiery eyes!



The following is a metrical translation (i.e. one that can be sung to the melody).

Oh, these gorgeous eyes, dark and glorious eyes,
Burn-with-passion eyes, how you hypnotise!
How I_ adore you so, how I fear you though,
Since I saw you glow! Now my spirit’s low!

Darkness yours conceal mighty fires real;
They my fate will seal: burn my soul with zeal!
But my love for you, when the time is due,
Will refresh anew like the morning dew!

No, not sad am I, nor so mad am I;
All my comforts lie in my destiny.
Just to realise my life’s worthiest prize
Did I sacrifice for those ardent eyes!.

Translation by Peter Farnbank]

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