Slutskii’s God

Boris Slutskii, God. November 24, 1962

 

Original Source: Literaturnaia gazeta, 24 November 1962.

We all lived near to god,
Right next to god, in fact.
He dwelled not in a distant heaven
It came our way to see him Alive.
On the mausoleum.

A wiser and angrier god he was
Than the one-that other one
Who bears the name Jehovah,
The one whom he overthrew,
And tormented, roasted on hot coals,
And then plucked from the abyss
And gave him room and board.

We all lived near to god,
Right next to god, in fact.
One day I was walking down Arbat Street,
And god drove by in five motor cars.

The guards in their mouse-colored greatcoats,
Lined up, stood all a-tremble,
Hunched nearly humpbacked with fear
The hour was both late and early
The sky was graying, day breaking.

He threw a look that was cruel and wise
With his all-seeing eye -An all-piercing glance.
We all lived near to god,
Almost next door to god.

Source: Current Digest of the Soviet Press, Vol. XIV, No. 48 (December 26, 1962), p. 19.

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