Half the world I went right through most vicious fights Walked and crawled there with my battalion, When at last I was taken for all merits of mine With a Red Cross right back by the railway So they gave me a lift up to my very door On the truck to the house I longed for I was standing so numb, and I watched how the smoke Rose above from the roof but all looked wrong As If windows did not want to look straight in the eye. and the hostess - not glad the soldier’s coming, Did not break down in tears into his mighty arms she clasped hands, and then straight inside hurried And the dogs started barking on chains, I stepped in through the dimly lit hallway, Stumbled over belongings of somebody else Hit the door - felt my knees were falling He sat down at the table, and at my spot exact, a new surly, unwelcoming master In the jersey he sat and a mistress he had - That is why even the dogs were barking That is, while - under fire in the battle I pushed hard, no one would take it easy He moved stuff in my house in his own bloody way And hung everything as it would please him We were all under god, under brute god of war, But artillery rounds fell astray all Yet the deadly wound came from the rear, it crawled And got stuck in my heart as betrayal Well at last, I bent over my waist All the willpower called up to rescue: “I beg your pardon comrades, that by some sad mistake I dropped here at some stranger’s doorstep.” Love and peace for you all, let the day bring your bread, So that happiness stay here forever... Well, he did not give an answer, did not even react As if all was supposed to be like that The unpainted floor shook down below I did not slam the door in my ardor Only the windows flew open, as I was all gone And so guilty, still kept looking after...
© Alexei Tikhomirov. Translation, 2012
© Alexei Tikhomirov. Performance, 2012