Mikhail Svetlov
Kakhovka

Kakhovka*, Kakhovka, my rifle-companion,
A smouldering bullet discharge.
Irkutsk and Warszawa**, Oryol and Kakhovka —
The milestones of many a march.

The lines were attacking and bullets rained heavy,
Machine guns were blasting away,
She came in her trenchcoat, through burning Kakhovka,
The girl that we loved made her way.

Beneath the hot sun and night’s blinding cover
We’ve come what has been a long way.
Though peace-loving folk, we are keeping the armour
All ready to move any day.

Remember, Tovarishch***, how we fought together,
How wildly the thunderstorm broke?
We both were sustained at the time by a vision
Of smiling blue eyes through the smoke.

Then here’s to a youth by great valour distinguished,
Then here is to all that we did,
Let’s drink to our Land, the Kakhovka we cherish,
The place where our girl used to live.

Beneath the hot sun and the night’s blinding cover
We’ve come what has been a long way.
Though peace-loving folk, we are keeping the armour
All ready to move any day.

___
*This poem was written and set to music for the film Three Comrades (1935); it became a very popular song. Kakhovka was the scene of bitter fighting in the Civil War.

**Warzsawa — the Russian for Warsaw.

***Tovarishch — the Russian for “comrade”.

Translated by Lidia Kmetyuk