--translation of Lev Rubinshtein by Philip Metres and Tanya Tulchinsky
1
There are many kinds of angels also.
2
Aren't they a nice little family?
3
A serious conversation.
4
A serious conversation (continued).
5
Yes or no?
6
Georgy Nazarych.
7
Anxiety is never for nothing.
8
The longer the separation, the greater the sadness.
9
Unforeseen circumstances.
10
In Moscow.
11
You, of all people!
12
"Light-fingered as a dream."
13
You won't die if you try.
14
You're no Pushkin either.
15
The Cursed Questions, again.
16
The ghost of Hamlet's father.
17
"Farewell, free elements."
18
Father.
19
A new face.
20
Senka Samurai.
21
Ebbs and flows.
22
There's a chance.
23
So close, and yet so far.
24
Night fright.
25
At the cemetery.
26
A song without words.
27
I'm lost. Totally lost.
28
Let him go.
29
A truce.
30
It depends. Just depends.
31
One more test.
32
I'm sweating like crazy!
33
Unfortunate matchmaking, or love for cornstalks.
34
180 over 90.
35
Mama, he's here!
36
Don't go, I'm scared.
37
Here are three more-and each with sleeves rolled up.
38
Morning brought no relief.
39
The Boatman story.
40
The Boatman story (continued).
41
You don't know whether to laugh or cry (the ending of the Boatman story).
42
Don't be surprised, it's me.
43
How can you rough it by yourself?
44
The true son of his parents.
45
Changes are in store.
46
What will happen with all of us?
47
Just try to forget it.
48
Vox clamantis in deserto.
49
A man with a secret.
50
Levushka, come over here!
51
Waiting.
52
Along the very edge.
53
"Farewell, my love, farewell."
54
An ordinary visit.
55
Nothing except weariness.
56
Missed again.
57
About the trouble-I'll tell you later.
58
Cranky man.
59
Misha, dinner's on the table.
60
Sudden revelations of Igor Andreevich.
61
What's done is done.
62
Make I don't ever see him again.
63
Torment of spirit or chasing the wind.
64
Again, words and silences.
65
Again, insomnia and anxiety.
66
A tempting proposal.
67
From Friday to Sunday.
68
Now you be quiet, will you?
69
One more unpleasant mission.
70
We're here, Alexander Markovich. Can we come in?
71
A night of telephone calls.
72
Happiness is searching for us, can't find us.
73
Jean-Pierre makes a choice.
74
Alekseev's worries were not for nothing.
75
Anna Arnoldovna cautions.
76
It's possible to survive in Paris also.
77
Despite my better judgement, I want it.
78
You don't need to walk me home, I live close by.
79
Will summer really come?
80
The only question is: who finished the milk?
81
We'll crawl on cat's paws,
while a putrid smell rises.
82
You take too high a bribe for your rank, Rozvalnev.
83
Grandpa's gotten worse.
84
Man, poetry is everywhere.
85
Can't tell if it's a wedding or a funeral.
86
I hate contradictions!
87
Keep quiet until you know for sure.
88
From the mouths of babes.
89
She's not Misius, but she's got something.
90
As if the wind were coming from all directions.
91
If you don't watch out, you'll definitely step on it.
92
There is more to heaven and earth, my dear Horatio.
93
Same time, same place.
94
"Arise, and witness, and listen!"
95
Liar. You don't love him and you've never loved him-Kuzmin suddenly said.
He'd been silent all this time. -You thought this up just to torture
yourself, and him as well
96
You and your consolations can go you know where-Nadya burst out, and it
was clear that all the bitterness and pain, all the awful stress of the
last few days...
97
You have nowhere to go. They're waiting for you least of all, believe
me.-Mickey got up, lit a cigarette, walked to the window, and not turning
around, repeated-you have nowhere to go.
98
Oleg, I've been trying to find a chance to speak with you for
ages. Tell me, what happened? You becamewell, somehow... I don't
know-you've changed.
What are you thinking about?
I'm constantly catching myself feeling you're here, and yet you're
not really here.
What's wrong with you? I'm exhausted. I'm lost. You're hiding
something from me. You think I can't see it?
What happened? Please, what's happened?
Sveta came right up to him, put her hand on his shoulder, and
stared into his eyes.
99
-Hey guys, let's go catch some crabs!-Vadka, the youngest of the
Vedeniapins yelled loudly.
-What are you yelling for? You blind or something?-sensible Slavik lay
into him severely. He was just one and a half years older than his
brother, but felt he was an adult, the sedate man of the house.
100
--Vera, hey Vera.
--What do you want?
--Vera, how about it?
--You're a real idiot.
--What, Verk?
--Cut it out. Can't you see my hands are all soapy?
--Vera turned it back, hiding a smile.
Idiot, she repeated gently, quietly now.
101
-Just try doing something wrong. You'll get another kick in the teeth.
She'd pinch you all over. She was real trouble, Lord rest her soul-Baba
Katya crossed herself, was about to add something, but changed her mind
and was quiet for a long time.
102
After a few days, a special understanding grew between them, when
questions seemed unnecessary and silence was full of meaning, not at all
burdensome.
103
Unwillingly crying out from sudden pain,
He turned onto his back, and quieted down...
Everything around him quieted. Nothing
Disturbed the silence, other than the drops
Of rain and the voices in refrain,
Haggling with a boatman. That one
Seemed to blame the weather,
And demanded a higher rate. Other voices
Argued with him. And this squabble
Seemed that it would never, ever end.
Then he lost consciousness again.
And how long he'd been lying there-
A minute, a week, a year, or a hundred years-
No one could say. But the sun was shining
When he opened his eyes again, and he understood
That he'd been born again.