3

Why have you made your way so high above,

O Father? The signboard glitters like a screen:

‘…in whose dominion Earth, Water & Co…’

What else, what else? I need a match to see.

Day after day. Yes, yes. Day after day

you scatter, and like birds we come to feed.

I know thou wilt not ask me to repay

my debts (I don’t remember when I lend

a friend three roubles), you will not drive away

the unfed guest. He’s asking for assent,

one for the road… Curses! Wherever you look…

Beyond this damned matryoshka with no end

where Power is in the Kingdom, Glory in Power…