Again it seems I’m struck down with the chills My hearts rattling like a stone inside a tin This furry angry slob inside me makes me ill With his gnarled and calloused hands he gets stuck in. Well after paying attention to my "brother," My friends all said: "He’ll soon go on a spree!" I can’t bear to be with him, I feel completely smothered Because he grabs all the air instead of me. He’s not my double nor a second "me" Explaining him away is just foolishness He’s my flesh and blood, my own bad blood you see - Even Strugatsky would never dream of this.1 He’s waiting for me to end my mortal coil With my own hand he’ll create a line for free. And I will become niggardly and cruel And sell everyone - gross or separately. I’m not looking for excuses at all I don’t care if life slides and melts away. But I will not forgive the moments when I crawl As he takes over me and has his way. But I summon up the last of my strength Logic can never vanquish him So I force poison down my throat at length Let him drink it, let him die - I’ve beaten him!
1 The Strugatsky brothers, Arkady and Boris, were Russian science fiction writers.
 
© John Farndon + Olga Nakston. Translation, 2022