The threshing barn is stifling and hot,
I laugh, but in my heart, I weep from spite.
My old friend mumbles to me: “Jinx it not,
Can’t you discern that luck is on our side!”
I listen to my old friend’s words with doubt.
He’s lost his sight, he’s ludicrous and vile.
He spent his whole life trampling the ground
Of long and dreary trails in denial.
My fragile voice is crying out with sorrow,
The ringing voice of those who knew no better:
“Our knapsacks are all emptied and tomorrow
Just promises more hunger and foul weather!”
Под навесом тёмной риги жарко,
Я смеюсь, а в сердце злобно плачу.
Старый друг бормочет мне: «Не каркай!
Мы ль не встретим на пути удачу!»
Но я другу старому не верю.
Он смешной, незрячий и убогий,
Он всю жизнь свою шагами мерил
Длинные и скучные дороги.
И звенит, звенит мой голос ломкий,
Звонкий голос не узнавших счастья:
«Ах, пусты дорожные котомки,
А на завтра голод и ненастье!»
«I'll no more go roaming, no more seeking, / No more crushing goose-foot in the bushes. / With the bun of your oatsheaf locks / You have vanished from my dreams for good. With red berry juice on your cheeks. / Beautiful and gentle, you were / Like the pink dawn in the evening skies / And...»
«Wait for me and I'll come back, / Wait and I'll be back. / Wait through tedium yellow rains. / Wait through snow haze. / Wait through unbearable summer gaze. / Wait when the others wait not, / Wait when no letters you'll get, / Wait when there will be no hope / Wait when all others w...»
«Louder than crosses and trumpets, / long christened by fire and grime, / Archangel, your clumsy footsteps / resound on the quay of time. Vladimir! steed and still horseman, / by law and caprice both drawn, / how you’d tease, spitting into the palms of your hands, / "Here I come, heavy...»
«So they don't expect / letters. So they wait for — / a letter. A ragged scrap / circled / by sticky tape. Inside — a scribble, / and happiness. / And that’s all. So, they don’t expect / happiness. So they expect — / the end. A soldierly / salute, and / three slugs o...»