#translated by jltr

[mayakovsky]

Простыни вод под брюхом были. Их рвал на волны белый зуб. Был вой трубы — как будто лили любовь и похоть медью труб. Прижались лодки в люльках входов к сосцам железных матерей. В ушах оглохших пароходов горели серьги якорей.

Bed sheets of water beneath a belly.

A white tooth ripped them into waves.

The howl of a funnel—as if were pouring

love and lust through the funnel's copper.

In the cradles of inlets boats nestled

against the breasts of their iron mothers.

In the ears of deaf steamships

burned the earrings of anchors.

—"The Port," 1912

(translated by @suresne)

#vladimir mayakovsky #poetry #poetry translation #russian poetry #soviet poetry #translation #translated by jltr