We rode and rode from hillock to hillock,
But we lost the wheel axis.
We quit in squatting position, our tunics with ruffles.
Like the soldier-boys of love with blue eyes...
They took us and started to lead us in strange ways;
They led us and brought, as I can see;
A pale bird with cursed eyes is sitting;
Well, sing to me, bird - maybe I will dance...
Sing to me, bird, is it sweet to the soul without a body?
Is it easy to be a bird if you are forbidden to sing?
O Lord, harness for me the Unrestrained Steeds;
I wanted to go on foot, but, I see, I have no time...
And what to feed them, if the steeds are hungry?
How to give to drink them if they do not drink water?
Their curled silk manes smell of perfume;
They have sharp hooves that leave scarlet traces.
And here are all my comrades - vodka without bread,
One of my brothers is Sirin1, and the other is the Spas2.
And the third wanted to go to heaven on foot,
But he only drank and do drugs - that's the whole story.
Eh, the little bird flew out - but did not reach the end;
The kite pecked at the death of the dove.
They harnessed, bridled the Unrestrained Steeds to me,
And the steeds rushed - and all away from you...
We had a goal to be crowned, but luck passed by;
All the trumps in the mud, no matter how look.
My Father Sergius3, Father Seraphim4!
Stars are at the top, and snow is on the way
1. Sirin is a mythological creature of Russian legends, with the head and chest of a beautiful woman and the body of a bird (usually an owl)2. Almighty, Russian version of Savaof (one of the names of God, Lord of Hosts, lord of the forces of the Universe)3. Venerable Sergius of Radonezh, also transliterated as Sergey Radonezhsky or Serge of Radonezh, was a spiritual leader and monastic reformer of medieval Russia.4. Saint Seraphim of Sarov, born Prokhor Moshnin, is one of the most renowned Russian saints in the Eastern Orthodox Church.