Mikhail Svetlov
Horizon

The sky, it's said, came down to meet the earth,
And so, it's said, Horizon came to birth.
This son of Earth and Sky I swore to find:
I ran... he ran... and left me far behind.

Ah well, I thought, this rascal's hard to catch,
But one fine day he's going to find his match.

I see now how he slips from place to place,
From ridge to farther ridge as I pursue;
So I must spare no pains and speed my pace,
And, if I fail, begin the chase anew.

I'll leave my mark in that Horizon-land,
Cut down those ever-beckoning skyline trees,
And tame his beasts to eat out of my hand....
But ever to new boundaries he flies.

On foot, I find, I cannot match his speed;
I saddle up and mount a doughty steed;
Horizon treats this challenge with disdain....
From horse to car I change, but still in vain.
From car to plane — and in the sky I vow
This son of Sky will not escape me now!

But in the air the situation changes:
Where is the skyline to these mountain ranges?

Beneath my eyes in swift succession flowing
Are forests, lakes, fields ready for the sowing.
A wealth of scenes for me to feast my eyes on.
But where, oh where's this runaway horizon?

However fast I run or ride or fly,
Your swift retreat keeps pace with my advance;
Whatever speed I set or trick I try,
You still keep leading me a merry dance....

Horizon, you have gone without a trace.
Perhaps you never had a real existence.
But one good thing I brought back from the chase —
A lesson in endurance and persistence.

My friends and I, exploring far and wide,
Keep opening new horizons, rich and real,
And when we hear of any paths untried,
Again we'll show our courage and our zeal.

Despite all losses, bitter though they are,
We'll bring them nearer, goals that are still far!

Translated by Archie Johnstone