That’s how it is, as though in bygone days, bygone days - If you walked without the consent, the consent, If you stole - that meant jail, that meant jail, And if you knew too much - firing squad, firing squad. And I thought that I would never see labor camps, labor camps But I found myself in a dusty, desolate town without people, without people. Here walk crowds of people, wander around - indifferent and blind I glanced at people’s dark, gloomy faces - all not known to me. But that’s how it is, as though in bygone days, bygone days - If you walked without the consent, the consent, If you stole - that meant jail, that meant jail, And if you knew too much - firing squad, firing squad. Then why did I curse my bitter destiny? Looks like in vain, in vain. Why did I strive to break free in labor camps, labor camps? Here walk crowds of people, wander around - indifferent and blind. I glanced at people’s dark, gloomy faces - all not known to me.
© Nathan Mer. Translation, 1991