{"id":1644,"date":"2010-12-11T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2010-12-11T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=1644"},"modified":"2010-12-08T04:17:56","modified_gmt":"2010-12-08T04:17:56","slug":"%d0%b6%d1%83%d1%80%d0%b0%d0%b2%d0%bb%d0%b8-cranes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/%d0%b6%d1%83%d1%80%d0%b0%d0%b2%d0%bb%d0%b8-cranes\/","title":{"rendered":"“\u0416\u0443\u0440\u0430\u0432\u043b\u0438”: Cranes"},"content":{"rendered":"

http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=yB1J7JBszys<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Do you remember David, our guest blogger who wrote about <\/em>letters of the Russian alphabet <\/em><\/a>and also about why we say <\/em>“\u0434\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0438<\/em><\/strong><\/a>“?\u00a0<\/strong>Not surprisingly given his interest in Russian language\u00a0he is also a member of a Russian “\u043a\u0440\u0443\u0436\u043e\u043a” <\/strong>[club, lit:\u00a0small circle]. At one of their recent meetings the club members discussed one of the most beautiful and touching songs, “\u0416\u0443\u0440\u0430\u0432\u043b\u0438”<\/strong> [Cranes], about Soviet soldiers killed in the Great Patriotic War. David was kind enough to send me the notes from the discussion and to allow to post them on this blog. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00ab\u0416\u0443\u0440\u0430\u0432\u043b\u0438<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u041c\u043d\u0435 \u043a\u0430<\/span>\u0436\u0435\u0442\u0441\u044f \u043f\u043e\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u044e, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u0441\u043e\u043b\u0434\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044b,
\n\u0421 \u043a\u0440\u043e\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u044b\u0445 \u043d\u0435 \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0448\u0435<\/span>\u0434\u0448\u0438\u0435 \u043f\u043e\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0439,
\n\u041d\u0435 \u0432 \u0437\u0435<\/span>\u043c\u043b\u044e \u044d<\/span>\u0442\u0443 \u043f\u043e\u043b\u0435\u0433\u043b\u0438<\/span> \u043a\u043e\u0433\u0434\u0430<\/span>-\u0442\u043e,
\n\u0410 \u043f\u0440\u0435\u0432\u0440\u0430\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u043b\u0438\u0441\u044c \u0432 \u0431\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u044b\u0445 \u0436\u0443\u0440\u0430\u0432\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0439.<\/p>\n

\u041e\u043d\u0438<\/span> \u0434\u043e \u0441\u0435\u0439 \u043f\u043e\u0440\u044b<\/span> \u0441 \u0432\u0440\u0435\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u043d \u0442\u0435\u0445 \u0434\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0438\u0445
\n\u041b\u0435\u0442\u044f<\/span>\u0442 \u0438 \u043f\u043e\u0434\u0430\u044e<\/span>\u0442 \u043d\u0430\u043c \u0433\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0441\u0430<\/span>.
\n\u041d\u0435 \u043f\u043e\u0442\u043e\u043c\u0443<\/span> \u043b\u044c \u0442\u0430\u043a \u0447\u0430<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u043e \u0438 \u043f\u0435\u0447\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e
\n\u041c\u044b \u0437\u0430\u043c\u043e\u043b\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u0435\u043c, \u0433\u043b\u044f<\/span>\u0434\u044f \u0432 \u043d\u0435\u0431\u0435\u0441\u0430<\/span>?<\/p>\n

\u041b\u0435\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0442, \u043b\u0435\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0442 \u043f\u043e \u043d\u0435<\/span>\u0431\u0443 \u043a\u043b\u0438\u043d \u0443\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u044b\u0439 –
\n\u041b\u0435\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0442 \u0432 \u0442\u0443\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0435 \u043d\u0430 \u0438\u0441\u0445\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u0435 \u0434\u043d\u044f,
\n\u0418 \u0432 \u0442\u043e\u043c \u0441\u0442\u0440\u043e\u044e<\/span> \u0435\u0441\u0442\u044c \u043f\u0440\u043e\u043c\u0435\u0436\u0443<\/span>\u0442\u043e\u043a \u043c\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u044b\u0439 –
\n\u0411\u044b\u0442\u044c \u043c\u043e<\/span>\u0436\u0435\u0442, \u044d\u0442\u043e \u043c\u0435<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u043e \u0434\u043b\u044f \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f<\/span>!<\/p>\n

\u041d\u0430\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0435\u0442 \u0434\u0435\u043d\u044c, \u0438 \u0441 \u0436\u0443\u0440\u0430\u0432\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u043e\u0439 \u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0435\u0439
\n\u042f \u043f\u043e\u043f\u043b\u044b\u0432\u0443<\/span> \u0432 \u0442\u0430\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0439 \u0436\u0435 \u0441\u0438<\/span>\u0437\u043e\u0439 \u043c\u0433\u043b\u0435,
\n\u0418\u0437-\u043f\u043e\u0434 \u043d\u0435\u0431\u0435<\/span>\u0441 \u043f\u043e-\u043f\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0447\u044c\u0438 \u043e\u043a\u043b\u0438\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u044f
\n\u0412\u0441\u0435\u0445 \u0432\u0430\u0441, \u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e<\/span> \u043e\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u0438\u043b \u043d\u0430 \u0437\u0435\u043c\u043b\u0435<\/span>.\u00bb<\/p>\n

First verse<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00ab\u041c\u043d\u0435 \u043a\u0430\u0436\u0435\u0442\u0441\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> [It seems to me] – A very useful expression. Another similar and equally useful expression is \u00ab\u043f\u043e-\u043c\u043e<\/span>\u0435\u043c\u0443\u00bb [in my opinion], however \u00ab\u043a\u0430\u0436\u0435\u0442\u0441\u044f\u00bb indicates a lesser degree of assuredness.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u041f\u043e\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u044e\u00bb, <\/strong>form of \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0439<\/strong>\u00bb <\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 here the alternative feminine singular instrumental ending \u00ab-\u043e\u044e\u00bb<\/strong> is used in place of the more usual modern \u00ab\u2013\u043e\u0439\u00bb<\/strong>. \u00ab<\/strong>\u041f<\/strong>\u043e\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u044e\u00bb<\/strong> comes from \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> and means \u201cat times\u201d or \u201con occasion\u201d. Compare this to the word \u00ab\u0434\u043d\u0451\u043c\u00bb<\/strong> \u00a0[by day] that comes from \u00ab\u0434\u0435\u043d\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [day] and \u00ab\u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0447\u044c\u044e\u00bb<\/strong> [by night] comes from \u00ab\u043d\u043e\u0447\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [night]. It is more common to say \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0439\u00bb<\/strong>. \u00ab\u041f\u043e\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> in its various forms is used a lot, for example \u00ab\u043c\u043d\u0435 \u043f\u043e\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [I must go; lit. to me it\u2019s time] or \u00ab\u0441 \u0442\u0435\u0445 \u043f\u043e\u0440\u00bb<\/strong> [since then; lit. from those times]. Later in the song we see a related expression \u00ab<\/strong>\u0434\u043e \u0441\u0435\u0439 \u043f\u043e\u0440\u044b<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [until now].<\/p>\n

Right stress in the word \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0440\u0430<\/strong>\u00bb<\/strong> is important. Pronounced as \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u0430<\/strong>\u00bb<\/strong> the word means \u201cpore\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u2026\u0441\u043e\u043b\u0434\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044b<\/strong>, <\/strong>\u0441<\/strong> <\/strong>\u043a\u0440\u043e\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u044b\u0445<\/strong> <\/strong>\u043d\u0435<\/strong> <\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u0438\u0448\u0435<\/span>\u0434\u0448\u0438\u0435<\/strong> <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0439<\/strong>\u2026\u00bb – \u00a0<\/strong>Here we see how the declension system gives the songwriter the freedom to play with word order in a way that just doesn\u2019t work in English. Translating word-for-word we get \u201c(the) soldiers from bloody not returned fields\u201d. However the Russian makes perfect sense when we see how the case endings match up. \u00ab\u041f\u0440\u0438\u0448\u0435<\/span>\u0434\u0448\u0438\u0435\u00bb <\/strong>is a past active participle <\/strong>derived from \u00ab\u043f\u0440\u0438\u0439\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u00bb <\/strong>(normally to arrive, but here better interpreted as to return), and its ending \u00ab\u2013\u0438\u0435\u00bb <\/strong>makes it <\/strong>nominative plural, so it goes with \u00ab\u0441\u043e\u043b\u0434\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044b\u00bb <\/strong>[soldiers]. \u00ab\u041a\u0440\u043e\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u044b\u0445\u00bb <\/strong>[bloody] <\/strong>and \u00ab\u043f\u043e\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0439\u00bb <\/strong>[fields] <\/strong>have genitive plural endings so they go together as adjective and noun, despite having another word between them. Not keeping adjectives and their nouns together was common in Latin, but in Russian I think it is confined to songs and poetry. So the whole phrase \u00ab\u0441\u043e\u043b\u0434\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044b, \u0441 \u043a\u0440\u043e\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u044b\u0445 \u043d\u0435 \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0448\u0435<\/span>\u0434\u0448\u0438\u0435 \u043f\u043e\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0439\u00bb <\/strong>means: the soldiers who didn\u2019t come back from bloody battlefields.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u041d\u0435 \u0432 \u0437\u0435<\/span>\u043c\u043b\u044e \u044d<\/span>\u0442\u0443 \u043f\u043e\u043b\u0435\u0433\u043b\u0438<\/span> \u043a\u043e\u0433\u0434\u0430<\/span>-\u0442\u043e\u00bb –<\/strong> more or less literally the phrase means \u201cdid not lie down in that ground then\u201d. Usually \u00ab\u043a\u043e\u0433\u0434\u0430-\u0442\u043e\u00bb<\/strong> means \u201cat some time\u201d (definite but not known or specified by the speaker or writer), but here it doesn\u2019t really work in English and \u201cthen\u201d is probably the best way of translating it. Note that \u00ab\u0432 \u0437\u0435<\/span>\u043c\u043b\u044e \u044d<\/span>\u0442\u0443\u00bb<\/strong> is accusative, so \u00ab\u043f\u043e\u043b\u0435\u0433\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> suggests the act of laying oneself to rest in the ground rather than the state of being buried. A looser translation perhaps more true to the spirit is \u201cDo not lie in the ground where they fell\u201d\u2026<\/p>\n

There’s a very strong imagery connected with the word \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u043b\u0435\u0433\u043b\u0438<\/span><\/strong>\u00bb <\/strong>[felled]. When grass is flattened by wind, rain or hail, it is said \u00ab<\/strong>\u0442\u0440\u0430\u0432\u0430<\/span><\/strong> <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u043b\u0435\u0433\u043b\u0430<\/span><\/strong>\u00bb <\/strong>[felled grass]. <\/strong>\u00a0So there’s this very emotional tie-in back to the previous line about \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u0440\u043e\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u044b\u0435<\/strong> <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u043b\u044f<\/span><\/strong>\u00bb<\/strong> [bloody fields]. The image is of men like blades of grass, reaching for the sun, but felled by force. Also, there’s a counter-point here: \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0433\u0448\u0430\u044f<\/strong> <\/strong>\u0442\u0440\u0430\u0432\u0430<\/span><\/strong>\u00bb<\/strong> [felled grass] can straighten up again in a few hours and continue its growth, but fallen soldiers cannot come back.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u0410 \u043f\u0440\u0435\u0432\u0440\u0430\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u043b\u0438\u0441\u044c \u0432 \u0431\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u044b\u0445 \u0436\u0443\u0440\u0430\u0432\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0439<\/strong>.\u00bb [But turned into white cranes.] – \u00a0\u00ab\u041f\u0440\u0435\u0432\u0440\u0430\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u044c\u0441<\/strong>\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> [to turn into] is a useful verb that can be used reflexively, like here, or non-reflexively as in the line from another popular song \u00ab\u041c\u0438\u043b<\/strong>\u043b<\/strong>\u0438\u043e<\/span>\u043d <\/strong>\u0430<\/span><\/strong>\u043b\u044b\u0445 <\/strong>\u0440<\/strong>\u043e\u0437\u00bb<\/strong> [A Million of Scarlet Roses]: \u00ab\u0421\u0432\u043e\u044e<\/span> \u0436\u0438\u0437\u043d\u044c \u0434\u043b\u044f \u0442\u0435\u0431\u044f<\/span> \u043f\u0440\u0435\u0432\u0440\u0430\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0442 \u0432 \u0446\u0432\u0435\u0442\u044b<\/span>\u00bb [Will turn his own life into flowers for you.]<\/p>\n

Second verse<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00ab\u041e\u043d\u0438<\/span> \u0434\u043e \u0441\u0435\u0439 \u043f\u043e\u0440\u044b<\/span> \u0441 \u0432\u0440\u0435\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u043d \u0442\u0435\u0445 \u0434\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0438\u0445\u00bb<\/strong> [Since those times until now] – in \u00ab\u0434\u043e \u0441\u0435\u0439 \u043f\u043e\u0440\u044b<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong>, we have \u00ab\u043f\u043e\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> in its singular genitive form, so the implication is \u201cright now\u201d rather than \u201cnowadays\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u041b\u0435\u0442\u044f<\/span>\u0442 \u0438 \u043f\u043e\u0434\u0430\u044e<\/span>\u0442 \u043d\u0430\u043c \u0433\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0441\u0430<\/span><\/strong>.\u00bb [(they) Fly and give us (their) voices]<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u041d\u0435 \u043f\u043e\u0442\u043e\u043c\u0443<\/span> \u043b\u044c \u0442\u0430\u043a \u0447\u0430<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u043e \u0438 \u043f\u0435\u0447\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e\/ \u041c\u044b \u0437\u0430\u043c\u043e\u043b\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u0435\u043c, \u0433\u043b\u044f<\/span>\u0434\u044f \u0432 \u043d\u0435\u0431\u0435\u0441\u0430<\/span>?\u00bb<\/strong> [Isn\u2019t this why, often, sadly,\/ we fall silent, looking into the skies.] Note \u00ab\u0437\u0430\u043c\u043e\u043b\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u0435\u043c\u00bb<\/strong>, from \u00ab\u0437\u0430\u043c\u043e\u043b\u0447\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong>, perfective of \u00ab\u043c\u043e\u043b\u0447\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [to be silent]. English lacks a simple verb for saying nothing. Note how the interrogative participle \u00ab\u043b\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> is shortened here to \u00ab\u043b\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> (like \u00ab\u0431\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> is sometimes shortened to \u00ab\u0431\u00bb<\/strong>). \u00ab\u041d\u0435\u0431\u0435\u0441\u0430<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> is the plural of \u00ab\u043d\u0435<\/span>\u0431\u043e\u00bb<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Third verse<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00ab\u041b\u0435\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0442, \u043b\u0435\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0442 \u043f\u043e \u043d\u0435<\/span>\u0431\u0443 \u043a\u043b\u0438\u043d \u0443\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u044b\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> \u2013 A \u00ab\u043a\u043b\u0438\u043d\u00bb<\/strong> is a wedge: obviously here it refers to the V-formation in which these birds fly. Direct translation doesn\u2019t really work in English. Perhaps the best way to translate this line (rather loosely) is \u201cthe weary formation flies and flies on through the sky\u201d\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u041b\u0435\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0442 \u0432 \u0442\u0443\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0435 \u043d\u0430 \u0438\u0441\u0445\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u0435 \u0434\u043d\u044f<\/strong>,\u00bb [ it flies in the mist at the end of the day\u2026]
\n\u00ab\u0418 \u0432 \u0442\u043e\u043c \u0441\u0442\u0440\u043e\u044e<\/span> \u0435\u0441\u0442\u044c \u043f\u0440\u043e\u043c\u0435\u0436\u0443<\/span>\u0442\u043e\u043a \u043c\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u044b\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> [and in that formation is a small gap\u2026] – \u00ab\u0421\u0442\u0440\u043e\u044e<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> comes from the noun \u00ab\u0441\u0442\u0440\u043e\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> [here – formation]. It is related to the verb \u00ab\u0441\u0442\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0438\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [ to build]. \u00ab\u0421\u0442\u0440\u043e\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> is one of those masculine nouns that has a special prepositional ending \u00ab\u0443\u00bb<\/strong> or, as in this case, \u00ab\u044e\u00bb<\/strong>. These special \u00ab\u0443\/\u044e\u00bb<\/strong> endings are always stressed, and they only apply when the preposition is \u00ab\u0432\u00bb<\/strong> or \u00ab\u043d\u0430\u00bb<\/strong>.\u00a0 Note that although the noun \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u0442\u0440\u043e\u0439<\/strong>\u00bb<\/strong> can also be translated as \u201carray\u201d or \u201cline-up\u201d, the most contextually appropriate translation in this case is \u201cformation\u201d as in soldiers assembled in formation.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u0411\u044b\u0442\u044c \u043c\u043e<\/span>\u0436\u0435\u0442, \u044d<\/span>\u0442\u043e \u043c\u0435<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u043e \u0434\u043b\u044f \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f<\/span>!\u00bb<\/strong> \u2013 Maybe, that place is for me!<\/p>\n

Fourth verse<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00ab\u041d\u0430\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0435\u0442 \u0434\u0435\u043d\u044c, \u0438 \u0441 \u0436\u0443\u0440\u0430\u0432\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u043e\u0439 \u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0435\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> [The day will come, and with the flock of cranes] – literally, crane flock; \u00ab\u0436\u0443\u0440\u0430\u0432\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u043e\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> is feminine instrumental of crane as an adjective and \u00ab\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0435\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> is instrumental singular of \u00ab\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> [flock]. \u00ab\u0421\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> is not only for birds – \u00ab\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u044f \u0432\u043e\u043b\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u00bb<\/strong> [pack of wolves].<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u042f \u043f\u043e\u043f\u043b\u044b\u0432\u0443<\/span> \u0432 \u0442\u0430\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0439 \u0436\u0435 \u0441\u0438<\/span>\u0437\u043e\u0439 \u043c\u0433\u043b\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [I will fly in just such a grey gloom.] – \u00ab\u041f\u043e\u043f\u043b\u044b<\/span>\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> would normally imply moving through water, but the physics of swimming, sailing and flying are basically the same. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u0418\u0437-\u043f\u043e\u0434 \u043d\u0435\u0431\u0435<\/span>\u0441 \u043f\u043e-\u043f\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0447\u044c\u0438 \u043e\u043a\u043b\u0438\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> [calling from the skies in the language of the birds]. \u00ab\u041f\u043e-\u043f\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0447\u044c\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> is formed in analogy to \u00ab\u043f\u043e-\u0440\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0438\u00bb<\/strong>, based on the adjective derived from \u00ab\u043f\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0446\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [bird, noun] – \u00ab\u043f\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0447\u0438\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> [bird, adjective]. Animal adjectives are soft and decline slightly differently to the normal adjectives \u2013 apart from the masculine nominative they have the soft sign \u00ab\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> before the case ending. \u00ab\u041e\u043a\u043b\u0438\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> (a present gerundive) is derived from the verb \u00ab\u043e\u043a\u043b\u0438\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [to call to, to hail]. The people who are hailed are direct objects, which helps us make sense of the case endings in the last line\u2026<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u0412\u0441\u0435\u0445 \u0432\u0430\u0441, \u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e<\/span> \u043e\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u0438\u043b \u043d\u0430 \u0437\u0435\u043c\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [All of you, whom I have left behind on the earth] – The songwriter was able to leave out \u00ab\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> before \u00ab\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u0438\u043b\u00bb<\/strong>, because the only logical subject for this verb is the \u00ab\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> in the second line of this verse.<\/p>\n

So, here is my free translation:<\/p>\n

Cranes<\/strong><\/p>\n

It sometimes seems to me that all the soldiers<\/p>\n

Who never returned from bloody battlefields<\/p>\n

Do not lie in the ground where they fell<\/p>\n

But turned into white cranes<\/p>\n

From those distant times right up to now<\/p>\n

They fly and give us their voices<\/p>\n

Is this not why we often, and with sorrow<\/p>\n

Fall silent, looking to the skies<\/p>\n

The weary formation flies and flies on through the sky<\/p>\n

It flies in the mist at the end of the day<\/p>\n

And in that formation there\u2019s a tiny space<\/p>\n

It could be – that place is for me!<\/p>\n

The day will come, and with the flock of cranes<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll be flying in just such a grey gloom<\/p>\n

Calling from the skies in the language of the birds<\/p>\n

To all of you I\u2019ve left behind on earth.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Do you remember David, our guest blogger who wrote about letters of the Russian alphabet and also about why we say “\u0434\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0438“?\u00a0Not surprisingly given his interest in Russian language\u00a0he is also a member of a Russian “\u043a\u0440\u0443\u0436\u043e\u043a” [club, lit:\u00a0small circle]. At one of their recent meetings the club members discussed one of the most beautiful…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[7433,12964,12962,12963,12961,1248,1263,12783,12959,12960],"class_list":["post-1644","post","type-post","status-publish","hentry","category-language","tag-guest-post","tag-ian-frankel","tag-mark-bernes","tag-rasul-gamzatov","tag-russian-emotions","tag-russian-language","tag-russian-poetry","tag-russian-songs","tag-soviet-songs","tag-world-war-ii-songs"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1644","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1644"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1644\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1654,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1644\/revisions\/1654"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1644"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1644"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1644"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}