In front of these thick-headed livings with no grace from GodTHE FLOWERS OF RUINS Auezkhan Kodar Poems 1. SHOKAN IN PETERBURG Petersburg is in fog... I can’t see All its houses, and coaches, and people... Eh! where is now a steppe horse for me! For I could cease my pain if I’m cripple! To gallop away... from them, rouged amours, From them, fools of bad exalted rank. Forgive me friend, you’re my friend Petersburg; There are too many things that I can’t understand. All in fog... and the duty of citizenship, And the great mission of the Great Russians. And I ramble as wolf among sheep, Trying to be their guest in dissimulation. I am not son of yours, but am real. Fatherland waits for me, disease breeder. My nation is doomed to standstill, But I’ll be its intellectual leader. Our ancient world writhes in labour. Why this punishment is my best bet? For my Kazakhs I am some strange neighbour, For the Russians – a savage with epaulets.
|