I thought about eagles for a long time
And understood a lot:
Eagles fly on heights sublime,
Disturbing people not.
I saw that eagles live on mountains hard to climb,
And make friends with spirits of the skies.
I thought about eagles for a long time,
But confused them, I think, with flies.
by Даниил Иванович Хармс (Daniil Ivanovich Kharms)
a.k.a. Даниил Иванович Ювачёв (Daniil Ivanovich Yuvachov)
(15 March 1939)
from Events
translated by Matvei Yankelevich with Ilya Bernstein
Koratygin came to see Tikakeyev but did not find him at home.
Meanwhile, Tikakeyev was at the store buying sugar, meat and cucumbers. Koratygin milled around in Tikakeyev’s doorway and was about ready to write him a note when he saw Tikakeyev himself, carrying a plastic satchel in his hands. Koratygin saw Tikakeyev and yelled:
“And I’ve been waiting here for a whole hour!”
“That’s not true,” said Tikakeyev, “I’ve only been out 25 minutes.”
“Well that I don’t know,” said Koratygin, “but I’ve been here an hour, that much I do know.”
“Don’t lie,” said Tikakeyev, “It’s shameful.”
“My good sir,” said Koratygin, “you should use some discretion in choosing your words.”
“I think…,” started Tikakeyev, but Koratygin interrupted:
“If you think…,” he said, but then Tikakeyev interrupted Koratygin, saying:
“You’re one to talk!”
These words so enraged Koratygin that he pinched one nostril with his finger and blew his other nostril at Tikakeyev.
Then Tikakeyev snatched the biggest cucumber from his satchel and hit Koratygin over the head.
Koratygin clasped his hands to his head, fell over and died.
What big cucumbers they sell in stores nowadays!
by Даниил Иванович Хармс (Daniil Ivanovich Kharms)
a.k.a. Даниил Иванович Ювачёв (Daniil Ivanovich Yuvachov)
from Events
translated by Matvei Yankelevich
There once was a mechanic who decided to take turns at work standing on one leg and then on the other in order not to tire.
But no good came of this: he started getting even more tired than before and his work wasn’t coming together the way it used to.
The mechanic was called into the office where he was reprimanded and given a warning.
But the mechanic decided to overcome his nature and continued to stand on one leg while on the job.
The mechanic fought against his nature a long time and, finally, sensing a pain in his spine that grew with every day, he was forced to seek medical attention.
by Даниил Иванович Хармс (Daniil Ivanovich Kharms)
a.k.a. Даниил Иванович Ювачёв (Daniil Ivanovich Yuvachov)
(27 August 1936)
from Events
translated by Matvei Yankelevich
Petrakov-Gorbunov comes out on stage, tries to say something, but hiccups. He begins to feel sick. He leaves.
Enter Pritykin.
PRITYKIN: His honour, Petrakov-Gorbunov, asked me to excu… (Begins to vomit and runs away.)
Enter Makarov.
MAKAROV: Egor Pritykin… (Makarov vomits. He runs away.)
Enter Serpukhov.
SERPUKHOV: So as not to… (He vomits and runs away.)
Enter Little Girl, running.
LITTLE GIRL: Daddy asked me to tell all of you that the theatre is closing. All of us are getting sick!
CURTAIN.
by Даниил Иванович Хармс (Daniil Ivanovich Kharms)
a.k.a. Даниил Иванович Ювачёв (Daniil Ivanovich Yuvachov)
from Events
translated by Matvei Yankelevich
“They say all the good babes are wide-bottomed Oh, I just love big-bossomed babes. I like the way they smell.” Saying this he began to grow taller and, reaching the ceiling, he fell apart into a thousand little spheres.
Penteley, the janitor came by and swept up all these balls into the dustpan, which he usually used to gather horse manure, and took the balls away to some distant part of the yard.
All the while the sun continued to shine as before, and puffy ladies continued, as before, to smell enchantingly.
by Даниил Иванович Хармс (Daniil Ivanovich Kharms)
a.k.a. Даниил Иванович Ювачёв (Daniil Ivanovich Yuvachov)
(23 August 1936)
translated by Matvei Yankelevich
Rambling At The Bridge Head 
You must be logged in to post a comment.