In Memory, Stephen Seymour, Russian Interpreter

RantWoman posts this unedited except for some format fussing from one of her translator lists a couple days ago. There are things it might occur to RantWoman to edit, but RantWoman is touched by the late Mr. Seymour being remembered for his translations of his wife's poetry. More often it's the wife supporting her husband in this way.

In Memoriam: Translator and interpreter Steven Seymour
May 22, 1946 - Sept 23, 2014

Today is the 9th day commemoration meeting in New York.
 Steven Seymour was a professional interpreter/translator who had worked for years as a contractor to the US State Department at the Geneva negotiations on nuclear arms control and disarmament, as well as at the US Embassy in Moscow. In recent years, he had been working on literary translations from Russian, Polish, and French.

The first collection of Steven Seymour's wife, renowned poet Vera Pavlova, in English, If There Is Something toDesire, translated by Steven Seymour, is published by Alfred A. Knopf.

Vera Pavlova was born in Moscow. She graduated from the Gnessin Academy, specializing in the history of music, and is the author of fourteen collections of poetry,four opera librettos, and lyrics to two cantatas. She is currently oneof the best-selling authors in Russia.

Video: Poet Vera Pavlovadiscusses the unique satisfaction she feels when Steven Seymour translates her poetry.
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/features/video/199

Steven and Vera met in 2001 at19.00 p.m. in Spaso House, the residence of the U.S. ambassador to Russia. WhenVera met Steven, she met someone who already knew her poems by heart. After working in Moscow for 8 years, Steven returned to the United States where he continues working as an interpreter. They have been together for twelve years and married for seven. This personal touch gives Seymour an immediate advantage in translating his wife’s work.

Vera: “Almost all of my poems of the last ten years are dedicated to my husband. It’s easier for him to translate because he’s lived through it and he knows the context.”

Seymour: 'The main differencewith translating Vera is that my other clients don’t argue with me.'
“Most couples argue over who should have done the dishes – we argue over the rightword in a translation,” Vera Pavlova said with a chuckle. “It’s incredibly cathartic and makes the rest of our family life very peaceful.”

Vera Pavlova:
Когда последняя бедазатмит все наши горести,отправлюсь за тобой тудана следующем поездене потому, что нету силобдумывать последствия,но - вдруг ты что-нибудь забыл? -Таблетки, галстук, лезвия…

Translation by Steven Seymour:
Whenthe very last griefdeadens all our pain,I will follow you thereon the very next train,not because I lack strengthto ponder the end result,but maybe you forgot to bringpills, a necktie, razor blades …


Vera Pavlova:
Богачам, нам нечего терять.Старикам, нам некуда спешить.Нам ‒ подушки прошлого взбивать, будущего угли ворошить,нам ‒ о самом главном говоритьна излете медленного дня,нам ‒ бессмертных наших хоронить:мне тебя, потом тебе ‒ меня.

Translation by Steven Seymour:
We are rich: we have nothing to lose.
Weare old: we have nowhere to rush.
We shall fluff the pillows of the past,
poke the embers of the days to come,
talk about what means the most,
as the indolent daylight fades.
Weshall lay to rest our undying dead:
Ishall bury you, you will bury me.

Eternal Memory.