from "White Trash" by Valzhyna Mort

from "White Trash"

original Belarusian text:

English translation:

                                          ~~~

I remember how she was screaming, how she was screech-
ing.  Vova, oh why, Vova!  Vovaaaaaaaaaaaaa!  Oh,
whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!  As if a huge vehicle were starting.
Vova! As if it were a tractor ready to plow through the
whole country.  Starting, starting, like tell me that I've got
more than Natasha! Starting, starting, Vova, like tell me
tha-eaeaeaeaeaeat! Roaring, thundering, tell me that like
you love me more! Then suddenly breaking down. Breaking
in anguish. Vo-va! Oh Vo-va! Vo-va. As if vo is here and va is
on the other side of the city. As if vo is in the north and va is
in the south. As if vo and va are two different names. As if
vo and va are two different people. As if vo and va are two
plantets that will never meet. As if vo was yesterday, and va
will happen only tomorrow. As if vo is lost somewhere in
the previous life, and va is stuck in her throat like a fish-
bone. Vo-va. Breaking down, choking like a drowning
man. And again, in a moment — turn of the keys, clutch
and gas. Vo-va! You swore on your mother yesterday, you
swore on your own mother that you loved me more than
Natasha! You swore on fucking God yesterday, you prick!
You swore, like you swore, you son of a bitch! Rushing
ahead, rushing around. Dear residents! Comrade tenants!
Please, do not panic. Do not leave your apartments, do not
go outside, do not send your children to school. An uncon-
trollable vehicle is rushing around the neighborhood. An
uncontrollable vehicle. An uncontrollable vehicle.

— Oh my god, you swore to me yesterday!
— And did I swear today?
— No, you didn't swear today.
— So why are you bitching?
— You swore to me yesterday...
— But today I'm not swearing

Ran over, ran over a whore with cherries. Ran over, ran
over a whore with pears. Ran over, ran over a whore with
pastry. Ran over, ran over a whore from a monastery. Ran
over, ran over a whore with carrots. Ran over, ran over two
kids with parents. Ran over, ran over two old farts. Ran
over, ran over a chick with fruit. Ran over, ran over a chick
in boots. Ran over, ran over a young moron. Ran over, ran
over a man with an ax. Ran over, ran over a man with a
knife. Ran over, ran over a man with a bottle. Ran over,
ran over a man that was bound. Ran over, ran over a man
with a bomb.

                                         ~~~


Source of the text - Valzhyna Mort, The Factory of Tears.  Translated from Belarusian by the author and Elizabeth Oehlkers Wright and Franz Wright.  Port Townsend, Washington: Copper Canyon Press, 2008, pp. 48-53.

TJB: In a prose chant of rhythm & dialogue & simile-wit, the poet unleashes big energy in wryly observing a wronged lover’s uncontrollable rage.