Manewry [English translation]

Motionless we've been ordered to remain

how long ago I can't even recall

We lack air, words and sleep,

throats as dry as the dirt

As far as one can see around

trench lines sprawl without end

And so we wait – passing time

without orders to attack the trench line.

You'd say – there's no rush!

And that's true, what else to say...

But when we're sent to the trench

An attack finally has to be!

One way is out of here,

Where horizons hostile gleam;

Otherwise you get court martial

-if you want to get shot by your own

But this is just the maneuvers

On hilltops shine of binocs' glass

it's all a strategic game

In which I have to play!

Squad mate asks again and again

'What'll be if we're hit?'

There's only one way out of it

'It's just we'll cease to be!'

Shout! And we're on the offensive

onto bare slope of the hills

around black bush of explosions

Smoke, roar! Nothing can be seen

in head panicked flapping

like a caged bird - my pulse

I live! Are the bullets blank?

Or are the shooters blind?!

Then in the spot I stop

where's us, where's them?!

I don't see him! He sees me!

Shot! Pain! And I fall down.

On the ground my face in the dirt

I smell my own breath from it;

in distance that took my scream

three paramedics make their way...

I keep hearing dry shots,

holding my breath...

those who survived the fight

mercy killing those three!

They're getting close! I freeze still

they approach, lean over me

I see the familiar faces three

Shot! They put me down.

'Wake up' I open my eyes

the field, squad mate, trench, flag pole.

Dusk. We still wait for our turn.

We live – dreaming of death.