to stand motionless
And I was a statue too
I knew I would be harshly
punished if I moved
because our lord and master
was watching us
I could feel the cold rising
from my marble pedestal
as the autumn leaves settled
on my upraised arm
Y et I stood still
But when I sensed I could
resist no longer
I awoke
I was afraid
For I knew it had been no dream
but my reality
Y et I would die if I never
returned to Russia
if I never again saw
my homeland
the birches,
the air of my childhood
An affectionate greeting
from your abandoned friend
Pavel Sosnovsky
Maria
Andrei!
As a child I fell ill
from hunger and fear
I tear shreds of skin
from my lips. In my memory
I lick traces of salt,
of freshness
And still I walk
I sit on a doorstep,
looking for warmth
I stagger deliriously
as to the piper's tune
I was hot, I opened my collar
and I lay down
The trumpets sounded.
A light pierced my eyelids
High above the pavement mother
flies, beckons with her hand
and flies away
Now beneath the apple-trees,
I dream of a white hospital
As a child I fell ill
I must go and see Dad
I've a jacket in the wardrobe.
It's been there three years
I'll wear it again
when I'm home in Moscow
I never go anywhere,
I never see anyone
What are you doing here?
Don't be afraid
Don't be afraid of me.
It's I who should be afraid of you
You could shoot me
Everyone shoots in Italy
And there are too many
Italian shoes!
Dreadful!
Why does everyone buy them?
These are 10 years old.
It's not important
All right!
You know of great romances
no kisses
nothing at all.
Very pure!
Hence great
Feelings
unspoken feelings are unforgettable
Here it's like in Russia
I don't know why
You know
I don't speak Italian well
Here's a story
A man saves another who
was sinking into a slimy pond
thereby risking his own life
Now they are both lying
on the edge of the pound
out of breath, exhausted
The rescued man says:.
"Idiot"
"Why did you do that?
I live in there!"
He was offended
What's your name?
Angela, good girl
Are you glad?
About what?
About life
Yes
Good girl
Sight grows dim, my strength
is two occult, adamantine darts
Hearing weavers for my father's
house breathes distant thunder
The tissues of hard muscles weaken
like hoary oxen at the plough
and no longer when night falls
do two wings gleam behind me
During the party,
like a candle I wasted away
Gather up at dawn my melted wax
and read in it whom to mourn,
what to be proud of
How, by donating the last
portion of joy
to die lightly
and in the shelter
of a makeshift roof
to light up posthumously,
like a word
Why must I think of this?
I have enough worries
My God, why did I do it?
They're my children, my family,
my own flesh and blood
How could I?
Y ears without seeing the sun,
fearing the light of day!
Why?
Why this tragedy?
Lord, do you see how he's asking?
Say something to him
But what would happen
if He heard my voice?
Let Him feel your presence
I always do,
but He's not aware of it
I'll bring the car around
in 10 minutes
Mr. Gorchakov, phone call for you
For me?
Please wait
Hello?
It's Eugenia
How are you?
Fine
Guess why I called?
Your Domenico is here,
the lunatic from Bagno Vignoni
No, I know he's not mad
It was so you'd understand
He's here in Rome
for a demonstration
He's been making speeches
for 3 days
Come and say goodbye to him
I'm leaving, immediately
He keeps asking if you've done
what you were supposed to do
Of course
I'll tell him right away
Thank you
I'm glad we could say goodbye
I'm going away with Vittorio
We'll probably go to India
Vittorio's my man
he's from a distinguished
family in Orvieto
Good, Eugenia,
I wish you all the best
Same to you.
Say hello to Moscow for me
How are you keeping?
How's your heart?
I don't know,
I've reached the limit
I'm bored
I want to go home
Hello, Vittorio
I'm going to buy some cigarettes
I want to change my ticket,
I'm