Speaking In Tongues
Scribbling In Voices

VLADIMIR MAYAKOVSKY

VIOLIN AND SOMEHOW NERVOUS

Translated by Maya Jouravel

Translation 1994 by Maya Jouravel


Violin was torn to pieces while begging,
And then broke in tears
So childishly,
That the Drum couldn't handle it longer,
It's all right, it's all right, it's all right!
He got tired,
Not hearing out to Violin's speech and
Sneaked out to the street of Kuznetsky
And made off.
The orchestra looked strangely, as
Violin cried herself out
Wordless
Without tempo
And only somewhere
Just the foolish Cymbals
Were clubbing out:
What is it?
How is it?
Then when Helicon
Copper-faced
Sweating
Shouted:
Stupid!
Softy!
Wipe off!
I got up,
Shaking crawled over notes,
Bending low under the horror of the pupitre,
For some reason cried out,
Oh, God!,
Threw myself over the wooden neck of hers,
Violin, you know?
We are awfully close:
I do also
Shout
But still can not prove anything either!
The musicians are laughing:
Gotcha!
He's dating a wooden girlfriend!
Smart one, ha!
I don't give a damn!
I am worthy!
You know what Violin?
Why don't we
Move in together!
Ha?
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