Eduard Bagritsky
Smugglers

Over fish, under stars,
the little boat races —
three Greeks are aboard,
smuggling goods to Odessa.
Jibing and tacking,
skipping over the waters,
are Yanaki, Stavraki,
and Papa Satyros.
The wind — how it whoops!
How it whistles right past —
sets the nails ringing,
rattles the mast,
and moves with a ripple
neath the hull in the dark:
“Wonderful trade! Excellent work!”
Let the stars sparkle,
let their light pour
on cognac, and stockings,
and condoms galore…

Aye, the Greek sail!
Aye, the Black Sea!
Aye, the Black Sea!..
Thief upon thief

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

The hour of midnight —
a dangerous time.
Three border patrolmen,
darkness and wind.
Three border patrolmen,
six eyes on watch –
six eyes on watch
and a fast motor launch…
Three border patrolmen!
A thief on the lookout!
Throw down the launch
in the Ottoman sea,
so that the waters
buzz at the stern:
“Wonderful trade!
Excellent work!”
So that the petrol,
like a bat out of hell,
shoots through the pipes
to the ribs and propeller.

Aye, starry midnight!
Aye, the Black Sea!
Aye, the Black Sea!.
Thief upon thief!

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

How I would love
to sprawl on the deck,
with the breeze in my whiskers,
in the fast-flying dark,
to see all the stars
glimmer over the bowsprit,
to shatter my voice
on the Black Sea’s argot,
to hear through the wind —
so bitter, so cold —
the tongue-twisting prattle
of the sentinel’s motor!
But perhaps it’s more proper
to spy on a thief,
with a gun in my fist,
as he flees through the mist…
To sense the strong wind
as it brushes my veins,
while I follow the sails
of thieves on the run…
Then, all of a sudden,
to meet in the night
a mustachioed Greek
without taking fright…

Aye, pound in my veins,
harder and harder,
my harborless youth,
my fury and ardor!
Let the stars rain
like blood from a wound!
Let me race onward —
a shot past the moon,
Let the waves sound —
a fanatical chorus!
Let my lips curl
round those venomous words —
I’ll sing till I’m hoarse,
so awfully free:

“Aye, the Black Sea,
wonderful sea!..”

Translated by Boris Dralyuk