Mikhail Isakovsky
Birds of passage fly

Passed over the birds threw the distance.
And heaven in autumn is blue.
Birds fly to the tropical countries,
And I still remain to you.
And I still remain forever
To you, oh, my dear Homeland.
And pearl Turkish coast I need not,
I need not the Africa’s lands.

I’ve seen ‘lot of countries, while walking
with ‘rifle atilt in my arm,
But this is a really torment –
To live without you in my calm.
I’ve broke all my minds with my fellows
While studying the End of the Earth,
But there was no greater the duty,
Than ‘fulfill your order, of course.

Though I’ve really sunk in a peat bog,
Though I’ve come to froze to an ice,
But if you will tell me the one word –
I shall not send you to the ass.
I’ve pined all my hopes and all wishes
Forever and ever on you,
I envy your destiny, darling,
It’s terrible tortures to screw.

Passed over the birds threw the distance,
To search summer, going away.
They fly to the tropical countries,
And I shall not go anywhere.
And I still remain forever
To you, oh, my dear Homeland.
I need not the sun, it’s not mine
I need not the foreigner land.

Translated by Vladimir Markelov