Boris Slutsky
Any beginning is the beginning of the end...

Any beginning is the beginning of the end.
That’s why we begin with an egg,
but end up with a smashed shell,
and this is the way we crown any beginning.

But we’ve been taught, but we’ve been drilled
not to think about the bitter outcome in the beginning,
not to think, not to know, not to try and find out,
but — once we’ve decided to begin — to make a beginning.

Let’s begin. Let’s play with cruel fate,
let’s start the conflict, let’s plunge into the fray.

Translated by Gerald S. Smith