A warplane, a fighter, I soar happily. I rule the skies, a wind-rider! But the one who’s sitting inside of me He thinks that he is the fighter. I just killed a bomber effortlessly: My seventeenth, verified. But the one who’s sitting inside of me Has become quite a thorn in my side! I was riddled through on my last sortie; I owe the techs my revival. But the one who’s sitting inside of me Again sends me into a spiral. Death from above is brought by a bomb, After they pull the lever. Yet somehow I hear the bomb’s fin hum "Peace be with you forever!" A bandit’s on my tail; I want to flee. I’m tired of fighting, I am! But the one who’s sitting inside of me, Has made a decision to ram! He must be insane! I’ll blow, by God! Yet somehow I stay alive. Against all my limits, against all the odds, I’m pulling up from a dive. I’m flying high! I’m on top again! Survived another endeavor! But look: my wingman is diving, and then - "Peace be with you forever!" The one who’s sitting inside my skull, He then got us both duped: He forced me into a dive, a free fall, Straight down, out of a loop. He’s up at 3G’s, yet he’s pulling away: An ace pilot boy, in his prime! Yes, damnit, I know I must obey - I swear - for one last time! No more will I follow my master’s calls, Let him deny me the sky! But why can’t he hear the furious pulse? The fuel - my blood! - is running dry! This machine’s patience drains rapidly... And his time is up, at last. The one who was sitting inside of me Slumped face first into the glass. He’s killed! It is over! Once and for all! I’m burning my final drops! But what’s this? I’m now in a freefall, And this time I cannot pull up... A pity. I haven’t accomplished a thing. May others succeed however! One thing I know: I did get to sing: "Peace be with you forever!"
© Vadim Astrakhan. Translation, ?
© Vadim Astrakhan. Performance, 2014