Посвящение корове [Posvyashcheniye korove] [English translation]

Who could tell me in writing or by word of mouth, why sadness is inherent to cows?

Why is it lying on the pasture and not jumping?

Why is its mooing almost like crying?

And why would that cow be having fun with it?

If the yield of milk is always unsatisfactory and you’ve got to calve, too?

If the poor things are only fed hay,

And get hit if they misbehave?

The fields are calling, but there’s no point in running -

They’ll take you by the horns and back to the stalls,

If from very young the cow’s soul is ‘cured’ by an old man with a shepherds whip.

If its faith in miracles was killed,

If it wasn’t loved when the times were bad,

If even when someone grooms or caresses - it’s only the one that will slaughter later.

I petted it and fed it chocolate

as I tormented myself with a sinister puzzle -

It’s blinking at me and doesn’t understand

That it’s look reminds me of something.