Ploughman

Don't wail, don't cry, don't pretend you're unhappy, ploughman!
You old, sly fox, you won't catch us napping, ploughman!
Under some pretext or other, daily you stand at my door;
Don't beg, don't ask me, don't stretch out your hand at my door!
I'm sick of seeing the whole of your clan at my door!
Don't get ideas, don't wear out my patience, ploughman!
Be dumb and obey me while I am gracious, ploughman!
If the year brought you peasants no gain, what do I care?
If there was no rain and no crop of grain, what do I care?
If drought spoiled the rice and barley again, what do I care?
If last year your debt with your blanket you paid, what do I care?
Now carry your rug to the market to sell, ploughman!
Be dumb and obey, for assistance don't yell, ploughman!
Don't try to explain that from hunger you're dying, wretch!
You'll never persuade me, so no use trying, wretch!
Pay what you're due—don't tell me you can't—lying wretch!
Bring me barley and wheat, and rice, ploughman,
Or I'll take off your skin in a trice, ploughman!
Swear as much as you like that you can't—I'll have it!
By Allah almighty, I'll get what I'm due—I'll have it!
You'll be whipped and flogged black and blue—I'll have it!
Don't forg-et yourself, pay your arrears, ploughman,
Don't overreach yourself, don't spill vain tears, ploughman!
Your job is to plough; eat millet yourself; give me wheat, ploughman!
As long as it's softer than stone—any stuff you can eat, ploughman.
If you don't have water, thcir's plenty of snow to heat, ploughman!
You have never seen butter or cream or meat, ploughman,
You're used to a simple life, like a beast, ploughman!
Haven't I always declared that I want good relations?
All an aristocrat wants is leisure and relaxation,
Idling-, gambling, drinking and eating- without cessation.
Such is a gentleman's life by tradition, ploughman;
It was Allah appointed to us such an earthly mission, ploughman!

Translated by Dorian Rottenberg

POETRY:
Thanksgiving
To the workers of Baku
Questions and Answers
The Odd Sneese