There is a Russian (indie?) rock band named Splean. Yes, this is the way they spell it in English. The Russian word splinis indeed an English loan (<spleen), sounding and meaning about the same as the source word – a state of apathy mixed with depression. (It has been in circulation at least since Pushkin’s young years, i.e., about 1820.)
Splean are fairly popular. The first song of theirs I heard was Orbit Sugarfree, ostensibly, I thought, another pick on the society of consumption – how trivial! I was wrong then. It’s about youth left behind. Already – so soon – not quite abandoned yet but almost over.
She’s chewing her Orbit Sugarfree
recalling those she used to cry for.
Maria and Juana was probably the second I heard.
In the fire of your dilated pupils
cities and oceans will disappear.
From the darkness they are staring at us,
the eyes of Maria and the eyes of Juana.
Imagined people behind the window
are dictating us the last pages.
All nights through, the eyes of
Maria and Juana will be in the dreams.
And the wind is driving a snowball
carrying it over cities and homes.
They are walking through life barefoot
shaking their empty sleeves.
On a white field, the snow’s invisible.
On black, invisible are our shadows.
Just two lines forward,
two lines forward, and we’re there.
Into the fire of your dilated pupils
cities and oceans will disappear.
From the darkness staring at us
are the eyes of Maria and the eyes of Juana.
Farewell, Maria… Farewell, Juana…
Yeah, it’s an imperfect and somewhat lame translation but it’s the best I can and perhaps not far from the best possible – poetry is beyond translation.