God, how I long to live!..
God, how I long to live!.. Even as a little mouse
I would live out my days and sprinkle my burrow with tears
And, in rapture, tear open the little shirt on my chest,
And carefully chew a last year's crust.
Literal translation
God, how I long to live, even as a wretched little insect!
Perhaps the forgotten sun is called a little insect?
The insect has no shirt, its soul is thrown wide open,
The sun is burning, and the insect settles upon the sun.
Literal translation
God, do not make me an insect, make me a midge!
How freely a midge would fly in the open space!
Let me walk about the world a little longer still,
Let me walk about the world for just the smallest while.
Literal translation
God, when no longer a midge, then a little flea, an aphid,
I want to touch your world, barely audibly,
So as never to part with my native earth,
Never to part with my green home...
Literal translation
Veniamin Blazhenny, May 1972
