Boris Ryzhy
Cinema
I suddenly remembered the eighties
standing with a crowd by the cinema
Dawn, a load of hairy boys
and an early March thaw.
Iron smelted across the land
and tank building is planned.
Life’s shitty, but floats past nicely,
girls come along to the dance.
Jeans are imported from America
and sold for half a month’s wage
by intelligent lads who have found
their calling out on the square.
A pretty Komsomolka girl
slightly creased, on a balcony,
she’s been flying all night like Thumbelina
in the arms of a deputy.
But still, the film comes to an end
and everything else does too:
The crowds are leaving and the son
of man is rolling on the cafeteria floor.
standing with a crowd by the cinema
Dawn, a load of hairy boys
and an early March thaw.
Iron smelted across the land
and tank building is planned.
Life’s shitty, but floats past nicely,
girls come along to the dance.
Jeans are imported from America
and sold for half a month’s wage
by intelligent lads who have found
their calling out on the square.
A pretty Komsomolka girl
slightly creased, on a balcony,
she’s been flying all night like Thumbelina
in the arms of a deputy.
But still, the film comes to an end
and everything else does too:
The crowds are leaving and the son
of man is rolling on the cafeteria floor.
Translated by Sasha Dugdale
Page(s) 40-41
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