A Nativity Poem by Timur Kibirov

Cover of Греко- и римско-кафолические песенки и потешки, 1989-2009 (М.: Время, 2009) 

NOTE: I’ve gotten into the habit of posting a Russian nativity poem each Christmas, and while so far it’s all been Brodsky (see here and here), this year I’m introducing a new voice. Below are the final lines of Timur Kibirov’s poem “The Den,” where all eyes are turned toward the mother and child. The poem was published in Kibirov’s 2009 collection Greek and Roman Catholic Songs and Nursery Rhymes (Греко- и римско-кафолические песенки и потешки).

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From “The Den”

And the magi came in with plumes of steam

as they carried in gifts for the newborn king,

while nearby the men gathered shyly together,

each gripping a hat made of fur like the others,

and his papa did not have the slightest notion

what to offer his guests or where he should put them,

while his mama could see not a single soul,

not a one, except for her very own son,

and the ox lackadaisically chewed its cud,

and the donkey’s long ears quaked and twitched on its head,

but the newborn just sucked at the boob.

Meanwhile, in Kerioth, another child

held in his lips a taut nipple and fed,

while far, far away, across the vast sea,

a third child gulped down his milk with greed—

the very same one who would fasten a sign

to the cross declaring Him king!

Translated from the Russian by Jamie Olson

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Из «Вертепа»

И волхвы с клубами пара вошли,

Подарки рождественские внесли,

И мохнатые шапки сжимая в руках,

Мужики смущенно толклись в дверях,

И папаша ума не мог приложить,

Чем всех угостить, куда посадить,

А Мама не видела никого,

Кроме родного Сынка своего,

И жвачку жевал медлительный вол,

И прядал смешными ушами осел,

А ребеночек титьку сосал.

А там, в Кариоте, младенец другой

Хватал губами сосок тугой,

А за морем там, далеко-далеко

Глотал материнское молоко

Тот, кто, дощечку прибив над крестом,

Объявит Его Царем!