"Motherland of Sergei E ..." a Konstantinovo Travel Page by Pablos_new

(C) Some photos at this page are by Alexander S. who joined me in this trip.

My full size photos will be on external site: Oka River

Esenin, "Anna Snegina"
trans. by Peter Tempest

"A nice-sized village is Radovo,
I reckon, two hundred farms.
You don't need more than a glance to know
It isn't without its charms.
We're well off for wood and water,
There's pasture land too, and fields,
And poplars along the borders—
All specially planted trees.


"We don't like to boast, but truly
At fortune we can't feel sore—
There's no farm without tin roofing,
An orchard, a threshing-floor,
And everyone has gay shutters,
On holidays — meat and kvass.
No wonder the district officer
Would always stop by for a glass.

"We'd never he late with quit-rent
But the head man — he wielded power —
Would always demand in addition
A measure of millet or flour.
And so to avert disaster
We'd pay up — for it's no joke —
A master is always master
And we are just common folk.


"But people are all born sinners,
And some eyes are sharper than tusks.
The men of the neighbouring village,
Kriusha, had eyes on us.
Their life was nothing to talk of —
For ploughing the most they could raise
Was a couple of clapped-out horses
And a plough that had seen better days.

...

Read all translation at: a Site of Vladimir Rogatin

Russian original text at: Anna Snegina