There’s no way for me to go back!
I scream at full anguish.
I run around the squares
Of the chess board.
I step on every other one:
The others — are not mine.
Oh, my stingy joy,
You split me, too, in two.
So that I’m to measure by half.
That I’m to believe by half-faith.
That I’m to howl in half-voice.
That I’m to be not myself!
Нет мне пути обратно!
Накрик кричу от тоски,
Бегая по квадратам
Шахматной доски.
Через один ступаю:
Прочие — не мои.
О, моя радость скупая,
Ты и меня раздвои, —
Чтоб мне вполмеры мерить,
Чтобы вполверы верить,
Чтобы вполголоса выть,
Чтобы собой не быть!
«Someone says: "Form? Nonsense! / When shit is poured into crystal, / Does the glass become less pure?" Another objects: "Fool! / If the best wine is poured into a chamber pot / It won’t make people more likely to drink it." The dispute can’t be resolved... Such a pity! / Indeed, it i...»
«We are cultured: we clean our teeth, / Mouth, and both boots. / In letters, we are especially polite: / “Your most obedient servant.” So then, why do we end / Any kind of debate — / like weak fools — / Imitating Papuans / And beating each other on the snouts? / True, it is u...»
«From the diary of a contemporary At wit’s end, I went to the doctor. / He pushed a pince-nez down on his nose: / “Nerves. Anxiety. Too soon to tell... / “So, I’ll prescribe / Guniyadi Janos.” The blood pounded in my temples: / Guniyadi?! For questions, / For disbelief, for bo...»
«Immortality? For you two-legged moles, / Who aren’t worthy of even a day on earth? / Perhaps — after feeling deeply offended — / Lizards, toads, and worms will want the same... Petty bourgeois with wings! Gingerbread and cakes! / They gorged themselves for half a century and now they ...»