David Samoylov
Departure

I remember: my Dad — he is full
Of vitality, trying to manage
All those packing; the cabbie — he's cool;
And the horse, and the springs of the carriage.

A lonely streetcar in Moscow looks
Like an flimsy, old coach. The wheel rolls
With the flocks of the furious rooks
Over suburbs and over cathedrals.

I remember my Mom. She is shy,
She is smiling and happily breathing.
We are going somewhere. But why
Are we going somewhere and whither

Are we going through Moscow? Nice,
Bustle is the immense city fair.
And gold cupolas, cupolas rise
While we're going, we going somewhere.

There is a clatter of hoofs in the street.
Jungle clatter. So rhythmic and loud.
And the candles of stars have been lit
When the fire of cupolas dies out.

Dad's still young. As well as my Mom.
And the carriage is harnessed by the fever
Of the stallions — ready to run.
We are going somewhere, somewhere.

Translated by Alex Sitnitsky