Volkhonka suburb then became
as aged as the Bible,
and light snow on the windowpane
welcomed a child's arrival.
It gathered us from where we live ;
through street and park we stumbled,
following, as we always have,
a miracle so simple.
Translated from the Russian
by
Paul Graves
Sa61 Yurkievich
OFF TO NEVERNEVER LAND
he is an intellectual
would like to be one
working as a mercenary (by day)
therefore therefrom thereupon
he rhymes advertising jingles
paraphrases anachronical chronicles
in yellow newspapers
or he ends up
a third official
in the general administration of the waterworks
where he sails
simulating gentlemanly imperturbability
so then in any case inasmuchas
(feeding on the public treasury)
he seems to be an obedient citizen
with no visible infractions
at last as a result as a consequence
shows himself coincidentally
in appearance at least
respectful of the civil
code
