Poetry Magazines - The best collection of poetry magazines online - Simon Armitage

Poetry Library Southbank Centre - The Poetry Library housing the Arts Council Collection at Southbank Centre

« Previous item
Contents of this issue
Next item »

Zoya Ezrokhi

print this page

A Day at Home

Today I stayed home,
Fearing a pogrom against the Jews,
In the name of Russian Christianity.
The dog pointed its muzzle at the door
“Don’t ask”, I snapped.

Since morning I’d felt depressed,
The way you feel on a narrow little island,
At the hopeless hour of the flood tide.
Clasping an anti-Semitic pamphlet,
Brandished
Its fist.

I’d long been weakened
In the bitter struggle with dust, moths,
With spiritual and bodily sickness.
Now Pamiat’* is affecting my nerves,
With the connivance of Minerva,
Who evidently doesn’t give a damn.

Maybe we’re getting too cocky?
After all, look at the blessings bestowed on us Jews,
As for me, iambic and trochaic verse do my bidding.
Jews are everywhere – in every argument,
And a Jewish acquaintance of mine
Even sings in the church choir.

But, after all, I didn’t crucify Christ!
I never ever approved
Of such a finale.
I took a lot on my shoulders,
And, when I die, I won’t quit the Russian language
Without leaving my mark.

Today I stayed home,
Fearing a pogrom against the Jews.
It was hot outside.
I went nowhere,
But stayed very snugly just where I was,
And I even wrote something –
Every cloud has its silver lining.

[1988]

* Pamiat’: an anti-Semitic organisation

Translated by Daniel Weissbort

Page(s) 53-54

Back to top