Vladimir Mayakovsky
War`s declared

"Evening papers! Evening papers! Evening papers!
Italy! Germany! Austria!" they scream.
And on the square, in its gloomy black drapery
crimson blood poured down in a stream.

The coffee-house smashed up its face, noisy,
blood-shot with bestial yells:
"With blood the frolics of the Rhine let's poison!
Blast the marble of Rome with shells!"

From the heavens shredded by bayonet stings,
like flour from a sieve, the star-tears strained,
and pity, squashed under boot-heels, poor thing,
screamed "Let me go! " again and again.

Bronze generals from their pedestals roared:
"Unshackle us, and we'll ride in a drove!"
Cavalry's farewell kisses were heard,
towards killer-victory infantry strove.

To the lumbering city in a monstrous nightmare
the guffawing bass of cannon seemed to crash.
In the West, crimson snow fell earthward, frightening
in juicy slivers of human flesh.

Company after company swells on the square,
veins swell up on its forehead in anger:
"Wait, we'll wipe our sabres yet there
on courtesans' silk in the boulevards of Vienna!"

Newsboys went hoarse: "Buy the evening papers!"
"Italy! Germany! Austria!" they screamed.
And out of the night in its gloomy black drapery
Crimson blood poured and poured in a stream.

Translated by Dorian Rottenberg