Five Poems by Vladimir Mayakovsky

Jianing Zhao

I
She loves me? She loves me not? I break my hands
and fingers, 
scatter 
     and shatter, 
as the others seize 
and release 
tête-à-tête petals of daisy
into May. 

let a haircut and shave reveal
the gray 
let silver ages 
resound 
all 
the way
but without ever bringing me, 
I hope, I believe—
the shameful prudence. 

II
It’s almost two o’clock  
                you must have gone to sleep
But maybe
like me, you also—
Alas, I won’t rush it
And with the lightning of a telegram— 
no, I have no reason 
to awake and disturb 
you

III
The sea goes to sleep
The sea goes—freeze
Like they say, the incident is settled—spoiled and soured 
Love’s gondola crashed against the mundane 
With you all accounts have been sealed 
No point in tallying up mutual pain and hurt and grief

IV
it’s almost two o’clock you must’ve gone to sleep 
at night the Milkyway looks like a silver river
i won’t rush it and with the lightning of a telegram
i have no reason to awake and disturb you
as they say the incident is settled and spoiled and soured 
love’s gondola crashed against the mundane 
with you all accounts have been sealed there’s no point tallying up
mutual pain and hurt and grief 
you see how in the world reigns silence
night imposed tribute on the sky in the form of constellation
at such an hour you rise and speak
to centuries and history and universe creation

V
I know the power of words I know the words’ penetrating voice 
They are not the ones applauded by the theater boxes 
From such words coffins break free from the earth 
and with their four feet of oak stride forth
They could be discarded unprinted unpublished – it happens, 
But with tightened reins the word races forward 
and rings for centuries and trains crawl up  
to lick the callused hands of poetry
I know the power of words. A seeming trifle
like fallen petals under dancing heels,
but with lips and a soul – is a man with a backbone.