Alexander Blok
The wooden barge of life...

The wooden barge of life
Somehow ran aground.
Far away, the screams
Of the crew resound.
On the shallow river,
There’s alarm and song.
Suddenly, a peasant,
Powerful and strong,
Turned the wooden rudder,
And let the sails spread,
Sent the boat-hook flying,
With all the might he had.
Gradually, the red stern
Turned around, at last,
And the motley houses
Started darting past.
Merrily, they sail off
Far away from here.
Sadly, they won’t take along
You and I, my dear!

Translated by Andrey Kneller