Tumansky's Right When He
Tumansky’s right when he compared you, So well with an alive rain-bow: You’re sweet, as she is in the heavens blue, And just like her, you’re changeable in soul. And you are like the rose of a past spring: Like her, to our wonder, endless, You blossom in a gorgeous thing And sting – let our Father bless you. But most of all I like the image yours As a fresh brook – It gladdens my heart, poor: You’re pure like him with mind and heart, of course, And colder than he is, for sure. All comparisons, rest, aren’t good enough for praise That’s not Bard’s fault – unreal is his mission – You’re, with a charm of heart and with a charm of face, By mischance! beyond comparison. Translated by Yevgeny Bonver
Tumansky's Right When He - meaning Summary
Comparisons Fail to Capture
The poem addresses a beloved—likely Pushkin’s wife—and offers a sequence of vivid comparisons: rainbow, rose, and brook. Each image highlights different traits: beauty, changeability, allure that both delights and wounds, and purity tempered by coolness. Yet the speaker concludes that all metaphors fail; her charm and face exceed poetic comparison. The tone mixes admiration, affectionate teasing, and the admission that language is inadequate.
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