The Ocean of Twelve Million Lies
by Alexey Deyneko
Today is one of those nights
When the world slides down
My body
Like a shy elusive shadow
Of serpent looking for a prey.
Further and further,
Until I am able to hear
The echo of voices,
Bouncing off the ruins
Of this ancient city,
Destroyed millennia ago.
Above its decaying remains,
As black as this night,
A giant raven spreads his wings,
Still seeking revenge
For those lost souls,
Sacrificed for reasons
Beyond my comprehension.
Carthage must be destroyed.
It wasn’t their only slogan.
Just as well
They asked for patience.
They stated that all sorts
Of miracles can happen,
Including through their fault
Of not arranging things
In timely manner
And failure to change
In times of change.
They took a closer look
At all transactions.
It’s done they said
And I received a letter
Of The Imperial Consent.
O Roman Gods!
Even mere act of writing
About those nights
Breaks so much more
Then pace and simple rhythm
Of my narration.
I am not afraid of it!
The ocean of twelve million lies
Already lies behind me.
And looking back
I see eight golden scarabs
Around the raven’s neck.
They gloriously glow.
When the world slides down
My body
Like a shy elusive shadow
Of serpent looking for a prey.
Further and further,
Until I am able to hear
The echo of voices,
Bouncing off the ruins
Of this ancient city,
Destroyed millennia ago.
Above its decaying remains,
As black as this night,
A giant raven spreads his wings,
Still seeking revenge
For those lost souls,
Sacrificed for reasons
Beyond my comprehension.
Carthage must be destroyed.
It wasn’t their only slogan.
Just as well
They asked for patience.
They stated that all sorts
Of miracles can happen,
Including through their fault
Of not arranging things
In timely manner
And failure to change
In times of change.
They took a closer look
At all transactions.
It’s done they said
And I received a letter
Of The Imperial Consent.
O Roman Gods!
Even mere act of writing
About those nights
Breaks so much more
Then pace and simple rhythm
Of my narration.
I am not afraid of it!
The ocean of twelve million lies
Already lies behind me.
And looking back
I see eight golden scarabs
Around the raven’s neck.
They gloriously glow.