All-out efforts are tearing my tendons, But today looks just like yesterday - I’m again absolutely hemmed in, Being brought by the beaters to bay. From behind pines, the barrels are rumbling, There the hunters unflappably hide. On the level, we’re writhing and tumbling, Now each wolf is a target alive. They’re hunting wolves! the hunt is in full swing now! Both old and young gray beasts are being mown. The dogs are barking and the people are screaming, Red flags around and red spots on the snow. One won’t say that the hunters play fair, Our extension is flagged from each flank. But the hunters don’t mind this affair, With a firm hand, they shoot us point blank. It’s the law, wolves mustn’t break with tradition - Being cubs, unenlightened and small, With the sucked milk, we sucked in addition That we mustn’t cross the flags line at all. They’re hunting wolves! the hunt is in full swing now! Both old and young gray beasts are being mown. The dogs are barking and the people are screaming, Red flags around and red spots on the snow. People aren’t stronger than wolves, nor they’re faster - Leader, give me the answer then, why Being baited, we move toward the gun fire, And to jump the flags line never try? It’s the law, and we must carry out it. So my time very soon will be done. And the hunter, who’s presently my master, Grining sanguinely, rases his gun. They’re hunting wolves! the hunt is in full swing now! Both old and young gray beasts are being mown. The dogs are barking and the people are screaming, Red flags around and red spots on the snow. I got rid of obedience and fear - Jumped the flags, life is more than their lies! And behind me I was glad to hear Pealing shouts of disarray and surprise! All-out efforts are tearing my tendons, But today doesn’t look like yesterday - I again was entirely hemmed in, But wasn’t brought by the beaters to bay! They’re hunting wolves! the hunt is in full swing now! Both old and young gray beasts are being mown. The dogs are barking and the people are screaming, Red flags around and red spots on the snow.
© Akbar Muhammad. Translation, 2016
(akbarmuhammad.awardspace.co.uk)
[Inspired by translations of other translators:
Vadim Astrakhan’s “Wolf Hunt”,
Thomas Beavitt’s “Who’ll Come a Hunting for the Wolf?”,
Vyacheslav Chetin’s “Wolf Hunting”,
Bruce and Kathryn Hamilton’s “Wolf Hunt”,
Eugeny Koshelev’s “Wolf Hunt”,
George Tokarev’s “Wolf Hunting”.]