CITY OF HAMMELN
(First Chapter)
Old and ancient is city of Hammeln,
Meek in word, strict in deed,
True in little, true in main:
Hammeln -- is a glorious town!
In the night, as needs the comet,
Sleep without oversleep entire.
Slender built, clearly with mint,
Until cuteness similar
"I won't go to gunfire!"
To the own burgomaster.
In city Hammeln it's cheap to sow:
In is only one style.
In city Hammeln it's cheap to live
And it is calm to die.
Dime -- carcass, nickel -- jar,
Cream, penny -- cottage cheese.
In city Hammeln, you know, one
Product is expensive:
Sin.
(We'll ask granddads:
Expensive -- scarce.)
Not the unbelted brides,
Not debtors -- and besides
Beer -- not thirst in the hearts.
On the weight of gold and blood --
Sin. Half-century
(Fifty years) in one bed
Having safely overslept,
They speed further. "Together we sweated,
Decayed together. Mattress, grass --
What is the difference?
(For four years God forbid
That I sleep in feather bed!
Better be hired to bathe a pug!)
Did accept the souls God.
And illumination: Suddenly
Such ones there hadn't been?
Hands -- to raise hryvna from penny,
Feet -- the debt is not granted.
But what for is soul, enlighten me?
Not deeply did unfit
Like jardiniere -- hammock -- clarinet --
In our everyday life -- object?
In city Hammeln -- unsubscribe --
Not a clarinet there is.
In city Hammeln -- not a soul.
But the brodies? For this!
Dense, durable. Like a stalwart, bull,
Costs a dozen souls.
And dahlias - to pose,
Face down! George, bow!
Citizen of city of Hammeln --
This comes out proud.
Don't forget, scholars: "To see
Hammeln -- and to die!"
Juri, and Rohrei, and Ruhr suns nicht
An (in dictionary: don't touch us!) --
Mix. And why are their eyes
Into earth? At first -- modesty,
And.... Thrift: stared
The button to the pants!
Here stops the reader. -- You lie,
Author! You rub in the glasses!
In Eldorado when and who
Loses the buttons?
Beggars. Those, who from dirt are rotten --
Carrying typhus in bedroom --
Aliens. Fast printing of sorrows,
Unpaid happiness's number.
In Hammeln there are no beggars.
Was, was, once -- and died then.
The thin body away from bodies
Wished to bury the full ones
Pastor, -- and right: not simpleton
Pastor, - we don't howl "Hosannah!"
The full won't forgive the thin one
Not a thread, not the pant's button
So that would know someone:
Not a trifle -- a button!
(Little diversion into side of button: )
With the button whole stock and life
Hold. Sober -- they'll hook up.
Button! Before-Adam shame!
Of fashions and freedoms within --
Death. Like forelock to Bulba -
To everyone you -- and bellybutton to Buddha.
With button -- all straight to dust,
Into dirt. Don't lose, dissolute one,
The buttons! Before-Adam falling down
Only with you is atoned,
Fig's! And wherefore the leaf --
("Mensch wo bist?") -- of the fig?
What not prototype of her? ("Bin nackt,
Nude -- I'm timid") --
How not rudiment, not the first step....
Button -- in the idea!
Buttons (nude stomach, heed) --
Thus the idea -- is here:
For distinction of connecting rod --
Smoke -- of the sheep of the Lord:
Buttoned up the child of God?
And unbuttoned is the goat --
All! Although a kin to angels,
Husband -- button up for all!
Not with the ghosts at night --
The entire Bedlam vacant! --
Beggars, geniuses, rhymers,
Noise-makers, musicians,
Convicts...
How to take on weight:
Without the head,
Without button! Without pants! Barefoot!
From Pugach -- to Saint Just?!
If the button -- is a trifle,
What, gentlemen, is full?
For the state one -- like the ground
To the tree and belly -- a pound
Of sterling. And will tear off -- beggars!
Revolt! They are smashing the cellars!
Have fun, mother, while is
With the button -- the nose:
The sign of good morals. (My one of Rus
Clearly one of a hooked nose --
In us).
* * *
Far from buttons' emptiness,
From the stubby verities! The muse!
From revolution will not save us --
Button. And they sever --
All? Though with demons born --
Bard -- unbutton for all?
(Here ends the ode to the button, and the narration resumes.)
City of beds --
Hammeln, manners --
Of kind, full
Storages -- heaven
City....
The joy of God --
Hammeln, of sound --
City, right ones --
City...
Heaven-city, share-city, everyone-his-pay-takes, -
Hon-city, ahead of time -- buy -- city.
Without fires --
City, goodness --
City, Abel --
City. -- Heaven --
City.
Who's not cold
And not hot
Right in Hammeln
Has gone --
Chew-city, heaven-city, ermine-city.
Kulak-city, at time -- go to sleep -- city.
The first bypass!
The first bypass!
Torn are connections with the world!
Is dog let out? Is cat let in?
This is the first warning.
Sirs, unbuckle the servants!
You -- shake out the barrel, at ease!
The labor, leaving the bench:
"Morgen ist auch ein Tag."
Without ten!
Without ten!
To calk the ears with cotton!
To take textbooks into desk!
For five -- the alarm to set.
Leave the chalk, shop-keeper,
Leave the pantyhose, bur-gher,
And straighten the mattress on bed:
"Morgen ist auch ein Tag."
It is ten!
It is ten!
There's no more interjection!
Is key in? Does bolt fit?
The third warning.
Close the bi-ble, father!
Put on cap, bur-gher,
Husband, the hat put on --
"Morgen ist auch ein..."
Hammeln's women
Sleep...
DREAMS
(Chapter 2)
In other cities,
In mine (through -- region-city)
Husband see maidens