Today not one heartbeat is heard, That’s for summer homes, tree-lined pathways. I’m falling, my chest is grabbing the lead, I manage to think as I’m falling: "This time I will not be returning, I’m leaving-someone will come forth." We got no chance, to look behind us, Meanwhile, our sons, go off to war! Now someone decided, who cares, floods can come, Stepped in the abyss from the trenches, But l-l had left my own trench, So floods would not come, wildly raging. Right now my eyes will shut forever, I will embrace the earth so tight, We got no chance, to look behind us, Meanwhile, our sons, go off to fight! Who’ll come to replace me? Who’ll take the attack? Who’ll come to the bridge that is hidden? I want it to be that guy there, Who’s dressed up in clothes that don’t fit him. A smile just managed to escape me, I see who’s coming for me now, We got no chance, to look behind us, Meanwhile, our sons, to war they go! The gunshots had silenced the beats of the hearts, My heart, though, kept on, loudly beating, Maybe my end - is no end at all, My end is - another’s beginning. Right now my eyes will shut forever, I will embrace the earth so tight. We got no chance, to look behind us, Meanwhile, our sons, go off to fight!
© Arkady Yanishevsky. Translation, 2008