Как хорошо мы плохо жили

English translation: how splendid were our wretched lives

00:59 Mar 14, 2019
Russian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
Russian term or phrase: Как хорошо мы плохо жили
Это название стихотворения Бориса Рыжего
Mark Vaintroub
Canada
Local time: 04:59
English translation:how splendid were our wretched lives
Explanation:
"плохо" явно в кавычках - автор отсылает, очевидно, к штампу о том, что жизнь в описываемый период была плоха, и опровергает его

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Note added at 1 day 6 hrs (2019-03-15 06:59:22 GMT)
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@Mark the pleasure was all mine)))
Selected response from:

danya
Local time: 11:59
Grading comment
Еще раз большое СПАСИБО!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +9how splendid were our wretched lives
danya
4How well we lived so miserably
David Vardanashvili (X)
3We were so good at living miserably
Angela Greenfield
Summary of reference entries provided
весь текст
danya

  

Answers


35 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
We were so good at living miserably


Explanation:
Где-то так

Angela Greenfield
United States
Local time: 04:59
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian, Native in UkrainianUkrainian
PRO pts in category: 100
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
How well we lived so miserably


Explanation:
альтернативы:

How well we lived so badly
How well we lived so poorly


David Vardanashvili (X)
Georgia
Local time: 12:59
Native speaker of: Native in GeorgianGeorgian
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +9
how splendid were our wretched lives


Explanation:
"плохо" явно в кавычках - автор отсылает, очевидно, к штампу о том, что жизнь в описываемый период была плоха, и опровергает его

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 6 hrs (2019-03-15 06:59:22 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

@Mark the pleasure was all mine)))

danya
Local time: 11:59
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 40
Grading comment
Еще раз большое СПАСИБО!
Notes to answerer
Asker: ОЧЕНЬ понравился вариант перевода! Спасибо!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  John Amor: This is a great translation. The meter fits perfectly, perfectly conveys the meaning and retains that ironic humour.
51 mins
  -> thank you for your kind words)

agree  Oleg Lozinskiy
1 hr
  -> спасибо)

agree  The Misha: Great translation indeed. Way to go, man.
1 hr
  -> thanks, mate! appreciated)

agree  Vladyslav Golovaty: envy:-)
1 hr
  -> спасибо)

agree  P.L.F. Persio
2 hrs

agree  Nataliia Gorina
3 hrs

agree  IrinaN
7 hrs

agree  Jonathan Phillips
9 hrs

agree  Michael Korovkin: agree belatedly. For a reason though: everybody is raving about this translation. Indeed it would be, to the point, "splendid" some decade ago. Now, however, it sounds a bit purple...ish. Our mutual friend Misha loves purple prose :))
1 day 11 hrs
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Reference comments


5 hrs peer agreement (net): +1
Reference: весь текст

Reference information:
В те баснословные года
Нам пиво воздух заменяло,
Оно, как воздух, исчезало,
Но появлялось иногда.
За магазином ввечеру
Стояли, тихо говорили...
Как хорошо мы плохо жили,
Прикуривая на ветру!
И не лишенная прикрас,
хотя и сотканная грубо,
жизнь отгораживалась тупо
рядами ящиков от нас.
И только небо, может быть,
Смотрело пристально и нежно
На относящихся небрежно
К прекрасному глаголу – жить!

danya
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 40

Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)
agree  P.L.F. Persio
2 hrs
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