A Ballad of a Smoke-filled Wagon

This poem is based on a real life story...

- This is so painful, darling, so weird,
Akin underground we are - you and I,
And on top our branches are intertwined –
This is so painful, darling, so wild,
To fall into pieces as if cut by a knife.
This wound in the heart is never-healing,
With bitter tears we'll overflow,
This wound in the heart is never-healing,
With burning amber we'll overflow.

- As long as alive I'll be there for you –
For the soul and the blood are indivisible,
As long as alive, I'll be there for you –
For the death and the love are together, invincible.
You'll carry this everywhere, my love,
You'll carry this to the end of the world
You'll carry this to the end of the world
Your dearest home, your homeland.

- What if I can't shield myself, my love,
From this never-ending sorrow,
What if I can't shield myself, my love,
From this piercing dark and cold?
- There will be reunion at the end of the path,
Remember me, my loving sweetheart,
There will be reunion at the end of the path,
We'll be back in one piece - you and I.

- What if I disappear in oblivion –
A glimpse of daylight in the dark, -
What if I disappear in oblivion –
Behind Milky Way and starry sky?
- I will continue loving love and pray for you,
So you do not forget the road to return,
I will continue loving love and pray for you,
For your return to me forever safe and sound.

He was shaking in a smoke-filled wagon,
Feeling fathomless, feeling low,
He was shaking in a smoke-filled wagon,
Half asleep, half sobbing, half alive,
When the train slipped off the rail,
A horrendous curve ripped off the rail.

Inhuman force was mashing bodies all in one,
inhuman force swept humans off the earth at once,
The promised rescue of reunion didn't come,
And loving hands did not protect no one

With your lovers do not ever part!!!
With your lovers do not ever part!
With your lovers do not ever part…
Grow into them with all your blood, -
And always bid them an eternal farewell!!!
And always bid them an eternal farewell!
And always bid them an eternal farewell…

When only for a moment you have to leave them!

(poem by Alexander Kochetkov, 1932
translation by Svetlana Rakhimova, 2013)

The author was returning to his wife, but missed his train. The train went off the rails and many people died. His wife thought he died too, but he was so incredibly fortunate having missed the train. He had a profound shock, which resulted in writing the poem.

You can listen to the original here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3B4-esaxeQ