The original instructions for this game are in Russian, but since I'm determined to continue this diary in English, I'm translating them here.
If you would like to participate:
1. Leave a comment to say that you would like me to ask you five questions.
2. I will ask you five questions.
3. You then post the questions and your answers in your own diary (I will read the answers, no matter what you write).
4. You'll include these instructions with your answers.
5. You'll ask other people five questions if they so wish.
These five questions came from Juxian:
1. Your favorite poem?
I don't have a permanent favourite, it varies with my mood and reading material. Some of my all-time favourites include "Birth of a Wing" (Rozhdenie Kryla) by Yunna Moritz, and "A Dream, After Reading Dante's Episode of Paolo and Francesca" by Keats. Here is "РОЖДЕНИЕ КРЫЛА" (in Russian, obviously):
Все тело с ночи лихорадило,
Температура - сорок два.
А наверху летали молнии
И шли впритирку жернова.
Я уменьшалась, как в подсвешнике.
Как дичь, приконченная влет.
И кто-то мой хребет разламывал,
Как дворники ломают лед.
Приехал лекарь в сером ватнике,
Когда порядком рассвело.
Откинул тряпки раскаленные,
И все увидели крыло.
А лекарь тихо вымыл перышки,
Росток покрепче завязал,
Спросил чего-нибудь горячего
И в утешение сказал:
- Как зуб, прорезалось крыло,
Торчит, молочное, из мякоти.
О господи, довольно плакати!
С крылом не так уж тяжело.
2. How do you see yourself, thirty years later?
Happy. I hope.
3. What do you think you were in past life?
I don't really buy into the past lives idea, but if I did -- hmm... Maybe I was myself, only no one noticed.
4. What fictional character would you like to meet and what would you ask him/her?
The idea of meeting a fictional character is kind of frightening. I don't think I'd want to meet any of the characters I like! Well... maybe the mysterious and terrifying Mistress of the Copper Mountain from Bazhov's folk tales. As for asking questions: half the fun of fictional characters is that you can make up the answers yourself. Besides, if I really did meet her, I wouldn't be likely to survive the encounter!
5. Do you have any phobias?
Not that I know of. *phew*