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Martin Mc Carthy's avatar

Yes, she's very good. I singled out only two of her poems to restack. But the truth is I could have picked all of the them.

Michael R. Burch's avatar

Yes, all her poems are good. My favorite is the first one. So good!

Martin Mc Carthy's avatar

You are a terrific judge of poetry, and I agree with you. That first poem wouldn't be out of place in an anthology of truly great poetry.

Michael R. Burch's avatar

If I were the anthologizer, I would include it, and use the Michael R. Burch translation. ;-)

Martin Mc Carthy's avatar

When I saw a post titled 'Vera Pavlova', I was hoping you had included some of those short, sharp love poems that are so unforgettable, and you certainly did not disappoint! All of these English translations of the Russian texts are top class, so I've chosen not one but two to restack. What a fine contemporary poet she is!

I shattered your heart;

now I limp through the shards

barefoot.

―by Vera Pavlova, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

A muse inspires when she arrives,

a wife when she departs,

a mistress when she’s absent.

Would you like me to manage all that simultaneously?

―by Vera Pavlova, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Michael R. Burch's avatar

I really like Vera Pavlova's work, and I'm glad you do too.