This will happen, happen,
no way of avoiding this:
the birds will shrill above the town,
orchestras will play,
the air will grow more limpid,
the guns’ thud will be forgotten,
and the army of the frontier
will march home singing.
This will happen, happen —
I believe they’ll smelt the armor...
Don’t forget to learn
from this essential day...
Это случится, случится,
этого не миновать:
вскрикнут над городом птицы,
будут оркестры играть.
Станет прозрачнее воздух,
пушек забудется гам,
и пограничное войско
с песней уйдет по домам.
Кровь и военная служба
сгинут навеки во мгле.
Вот уж воистину дружба
будет царить на земле.
Это случится, случится.
В домнах расплавят броню.
Не забывайте учиться
этому нужному дню.
«I'd root out / bureaucracy / once and for ever. / I have no respect / for formalities. / May every paper / go to the devil / But for this... A courteous official / passes through / The maze of compartments / and halls. / They hand in passports, / And I, / too, / Hand in ...»
«About turn! March! / Away with a talk-show. / Silence, you speakers! / Comrade Mauser, / you / have the floor. / Down with the law which for us / Adam and Eve have left. / We'll ruin the jade of the past. / Left! / Left! / Left! / Hey, bluejackets! / Be gone! / Sail away!...»
«What is your idea of a Parisian woman? / A jeweled beauty with a gemmed hand? / Don't try to fancy! Life is more gloomy! / The Parisian I know is nothing of the kind. / I don't know whether she is old or young, / In a gloss of finery impaired by wear / She works at the toilet of a restau...»
«I startled. Then I saw that it was not a dream. / Nor was it the fancy of a poet. / The "Theodor Nette" turned about to steam / Into the port. / / I have recognized him. He arrived / Wearing round spectacles of safety buoys. / Hello, Nette! I'm so glad that you're alive, / A smoky l...»