Ignaty Karamov's 1949 poem “Kirpichnoye” on great deeds without miracles

Let the deaf heavyweight of History
Preen and boast of his record, —
The secret is out: in this proud world
There are loud deeds, but no miracles.
We dreamed of foam, of singing, of propylaea
And of the mysterious rising of solemn crowds,
But in the morning the usual schemes awaited us,
The hateful turn of a brick-built conscience.
So be it! To masks of two tongues
We shall not let out our soul for hire,
But in sweat and tears our load of bricks
Like everyone, like everyone, we shall carry to the square

Literal translation

"Brick" ("Kirpichnoye"), Ignaty Karamov, 1949

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Ignaty Karamov's 1949 poem “Kirpichnoye” on great deeds without miracles

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September digest: archaeological finds, exhibitions, museums, theatre and the Church

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