V.Vysotsky, I Have Passed Half A World - Transl. (Rus.) Poem by Lyudmila Purgina

I've passed half a world
by Vladimir Vysotsky

I've passed half a world through the violent battles,
I was crawling and creeping with my batallion.
Then was carried by the hospital echelon backwards,
That was the compensation, the fighting reward.

They have carried me just to threshold - you see -
On the lorry to my native house, but suddenly
I was struck dumb with a whole astonishment, wicked,
While seeing the smoke, wrong puffing.

Even windows seemed scared, looking in eyes;
As well the mistress, unpleased with the soldier.
She did not lean to mine, to strong breast in a cry,
Waved her hands, and returned to interior.

And the dogs started barking fiercely on chains.
I had stepped inside house to see,
And got stumbled against something alien to gain,
Jerked out door - and became week in knees.

There was sitting at table at my only place
The new host with the unamiable grinning,
The phuphaika was on, under the hostess's grace. * phuphaika (fufaika) - the cotton jacket, coat
That's why dogs barked at me at beginning.

That's the case, while I was under fire and ordeal,
No time being joyous, hard working,
He had moved all the things in my house that moment,
And reweighed everything to his own.

We were under the influence of God of the War,
We were under the artillery batter.
But the deathly stab's plunged straight into my backbone,
And in heart as the treason kept staying.

I have crooked me in waist with the force of my will,
And have said to him: 'Excuse me, my comrade.
I was wrong to come to this alien house to see
This unknown for me and good thresold.'

'Let it be love and peace in that house for years,
Let it be bread and concent between you.'
He didn't move even ear for this,
As it was in that case just the right state.

And I staggered on floor. Didn't slammed by the door,
As it was in the earlier times.
Only windows opened, when I went outdoors,
Glanced at me with a guilty in eyes.