The Lament of Abrashka Tertz
UPDIKE, RENDERED BY JOHN
THE LAMENT OF ABRASHKA TERTZ A RUSSIAN SONG RENDERED BY JOHN UPDIKE All Moscow knows the loving pair we call Sonka-the-snatch and snatch-purse Abram Tertz. He's rummaged in the pockets of us...
...A guest began to strum, and Abraham Began to wring a concertina dry...
...Old "On the Moldavanka" was the song...
...Now one day Abram stumbled on a stakeDon't ask me how the rubles just arrivedAnd, moved to tears, he threw a merry wake For all the dirty years he had survived...
...The scum, they clap and wink when I go past...
...her lover drew a long Wet breath and thusly vomited his soul: 'Go screw you Sonka with your pretty airs...
...He bought some herring and, so they could swim, A river's worth of vodka...
...And all because of you, you stinking whore...
...He's rummaged in the pockets of us all...
...Sweet Sonka, having downed about a bowl Was laid out stoned...
...time flowed by...
...And all in turn have rummaged round in hers...
...The whole street knows, and everybody laughs And won't nobody let me in the door...
...I talked to Squint and in his cups he swears You've slept with every Russian mother's son...
...Your bed is full of lice, and I was one...
Vol. 49 • January 1966 • No. 2
