Thursday, July 19, 2018

Happy birthday, Vladimir Mayakovsky!

On the day of his death, Vladimir Mayakovsky visited his tailor, wrote this poem, played Russian roulette, and lost. Happy birthday, Vladimir Vladimirovich - we celebrate your life.
It's after one. You've likely gone to sleep.
The Milkway streams silver, an Oka through the night.
I don't hurry, I don't need to wake you
Or bother you with lightning telegrams.
Like they say, the incident is cloved.
Love's little boat has crashed on daily life.
We're even, you and I. No need to account
For mutual sorrows, mutual pains and wrongs.
Look: How quiet the world is.
Night cloaks the sky with the tribute of the stars.
At times like these, you can rise, stand, and speak
To history, eternity, and all creation.
Translated L. Shmailo

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