You have left for a short time, God beware - that we meet again, - But I have a freight-train - to the east, And a mine in Bodaibo. You are not going to cry and not going to wait, You are not going to visit my relatives, - Now I spit on it - I shall be hauling here Gold for the country. Everything is ending: Ceased have the noises of the wheels, The sleepers are ending, the rails not... Alas, it’s now to wail for woe! It’s a pity there are no tears The tears endet after seven years. Don’t await me, agreed, god be with you, - And if it’s difficult for me - don’t be sorry. Just remember - god beware you that Our paths crossing again! The stretch of time has ended - I’ll endure And I’m given freedom anyway, - But until then I shall sleep on the plank-bed in the zone, - I shall endeavour to forget everything. There the woods all around bend in the wind, The blueness all around - what not to do! Behind - seventhousand kilometres, Ahead - seven years of blueness...
© Elisabeth Jelinek. Translation, 2018