Oct 4, 2017 16:44
6 yrs ago
Russian term

Proposed translations

39 mins
Selected

If only there weren't so many "what-ifs"

Although I agree with Frank's rationale - I believe "what-ifs" is a better fit in this context. From literary contexts to popular culture references (song and movie titles) - "what-if" is a noun form that asks the reader to imagine what might have happened, if only.... It also conveys a sense of consternation/regret at never knowing what might have been, which fits with the sentiment of the following line: "...о которые мы расшибаем лбы".
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "thank you Allison "
15 mins

if only there weren't so many "would haves"//what if there weren't so many "would haves"






The poem is about "I would have done this or that" - i.e. wishful thinking.
One can pose it as a question: what if there weren't so many "would haves"

eсли бы не было разных "бы",
о которые мы расшибаем лбы.

Герман Плисецкий

http://katerinastone.beon.ru/44205-306-esli-by-ne-bylo-razny...


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Note added at 18 mins (2017-10-04 17:02:50 GMT)
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Если бы не было разных "бы", о которые мы расшибаем лбы.

*Ни рук моих не трогай, ни души,
Твои прикосновения — как шрамы,
Уедешь навсегда — мне не пиши!
И не тревожь и так больную рану.

Я не смогу как прежде жить и петь,
И наслаждаться каждою секундой!
И так стараться многое успеть,
И радоваться жизни так безумно!

И не смотри в глаза мне — не могу!
Внутри меня — иголки и кинжалы,
Не выдержу — я выйду, побегу
К далеким поездам, чужим вокзалам!

Лишь чувствовать твой запах — вот и все!
Что мне для счастья в жизни этой нужно


Уедешь — напиши одно письмо,
И больше не тревожь больную душу.
*******************­********************­***********
Я бы тебя на руки взял,
я бы тебя взял и унес,
тихо смеясь на твои "нельзя",
вдыхая запах твоих волос.

И, не насытившись трепетом тел,
стуком в груди нарушая тишь,
всё просыпался бы и глядел,
плача от радости, как ты спишь.

Я бы к тебе, как к ручью, приник,
как в реку в тебя бы вгляделся я.
Я бы за двести лет не привык
к бездонной мысли, что ты моя.

Если бы не было разных "бы",
о которые мы расшибаем лбы.

Герман Плисецкий
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1 hr

If only it wasn't one overwhelming conditional 'construction

If only it wasn't one overwhelming conditional 'construction
Inhibiting any thought or any thinking function


just playing
but you cannot use this, of course, if you use a different register for the rest of the text
Peer comment(s):

neutral The Misha : Not to be a critic, but what is a "conditional construction"?
18 mins
Semi-idiomatic, normally with a clearly defined structural constraint, in this case doubly remote. Hi, I like shoulda-woulda too.
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10 hrs

What Ifs Are As Boundless As the Stars, as if it were as easy as exploring the Mars

This is just my version, this is poetry, so I tried to avoid direct translation to render into English, but this might be a bit different translation, but this is also version.
What Ifs Are As Boundless As the Stars,
as if it were as easy as exploring the Mars

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Note added at 10 hrs (2017-10-05 03:28:06 GMT)
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если бы не было разных \"бы\" What Ifs Are As Boundless As the Stars,
о которые мы расшибаем лбы as if it were as easy as exploring the Mars


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Note added at 10 hrs (2017-10-05 03:31:03 GMT)
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Exploring the Mars is not easy, but as if

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Note added at 10 hrs (2017-10-05 03:36:38 GMT)
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TYPO above:
this is also a version should be

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Note added at 11 hrs (2017-10-05 04:42:46 GMT)
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The second version is:
если бы не было разных \"бы\" if no "what ifs" in our life, let's say (let me say, we say)
о которые мы расшибаем лбы over which we moon away
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