"Girl, But in a Dream, Wish Me Luck" (after Thavet Atlas' poem "Tüdruk, aga unes soovi mul edu!")

 

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As if just yesterday
when you saw me off
the sown seeds still in my lap

Now only a delirious prayer in the predawn dark:

Girl, but in a dream
wish me luck –
such immeasurable road ahead
Look at me –
I’m the man with the dawn-lit gaze
smile, tongue peeking from my unbuttoned coat

They press us to their chests – straight on, no detours
so many souls hungry for heroic deaths
Few old men in ranks –
just youths and fevered ones – still plenty left

Girl, but in a dream:
Wish me luck –
such immeasurable road ahead
Look at me –
I’m the man with the dawn-lit gaze
smile, tongue peeking from my unbuttoned greatcoat

And let the march thunder!
Every heel with spurs jabbing
stomping –
at glory and honor’s feast
Thus
we gladly obey orders:
Marching, marching, damn it!

Girl, but in a dream:
Wish me luck –
such immeasurable road ahead
Look at me –
I’m the man with the dawn-lit gaze
smile, tongue peeking from my unbuttoned greatcoat

Now the leaden rains come so often –
this furious downpour
falls like heaven upturned – yet straight to hell

And we crawl digging earth
hearts in mud
beating bare
bodies rolling in blood

Girl, but in a dream:
Wish me luck –
such immeasurable road ahead
Look at me –
I’m the man with night-colored glasses
crooked grin, tongue peeking from my unbuttoned greatcoat

Maybe I’ll return
when the roads are finally measured – shorter, stump-like
a forbidden slit-grin dangling from quilted jacket’s buttonhole