Well, we’ll live
as the heart dictates,
and not ask for anything.
To have a dog is impossible,
so I'll tame a mouse.
And he and I will pace about,
read letters in the corner.
He’ll climb into my bed
without wiping his feet.
And if letters suddenly stop —
after all, anything could happen on the way —
he, Mr Grey, then and there
will angrily wrinkle his nose
and then snuggle into my palm:
as if to say, remember, we’re in this together!
No need for us both to take Validol
— better to chew on a crust!
I’ll bring out a squashed heel of bread,
and we’ll regard the world more cheerfully.
He and I will invent a land
where there are neither cats nor camps.
We’ll abolish the cold,
cultivate bananas …
Maybe after our term we’ll be sent there
— though it's more likely
we'll be shipped off to Magadan.
But when I’m taken for transportation
and subjected to the search,
he’ll discreetly tag along behind,
scurry after me wherever I go.
I’ll put him in a secret pocket
so he’ll keep warm while wheels
rumble on rails.
And we’ll share sugar fairly —
ten grams for each nose.
And we'll go wherever the track leads —
for anywhere suits us,
we two old lags,
my long-tailed friend and me.
We’ll make a home beyond* bars,
beyond any frozen February —
beyond any Spring…
And if we are still alive
we’ll definitely get a dog,
when better times arrive.
— August 8, 1984
Note: 'Behind bars' and 'Beyond bars' are the same in Russian:
за решеткой.
Irina Ratushinskaya was born in Odesa, Ukraine.
More of my translations/adaptations here.
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