Boris Slutsky
Horses in the ocean

Horses do know how to swim, but
They're not very good. They don't go far.

One more thing that's easy to remember:
"Gloria" means "glory" or "grandeur".

Far across the sea a ship was sailing,
Proud of its bold title and its might.

In the hold, a thousand horses waited,
Shaking their good muzzles day and night.

Yes, a thousand! And four thousand horseshoes!
But no happiness came from their trip.

Far away from shore a mine exploded,
Breaking up the bottom of the ship.

People climbed into the boats, escaping,
But the horses all were forced to swim.

What else could they do – the poor, forsaken
Creatures – if there was no place for them?

In the sea a reddish island floated,
And the island had a small blue bay.

For a while their progress was untroubled;
They could cross a river, couldn't they?

But this river had no bank in sight.
So, when all the horsepower was spent,

Horses started bellowing with fright
As their fellows sank and met their end.

All the horses sank without exception,
Bellowing and thrashing as they drowned.

And that's all. But still I can't forget them –
Poor red horses, never seeing land.

Translated by Robin Kallsen