| Deutsch and Yarmolinsky, comps. Modern Russian Poetry. 1921. | | | | The Salt Song | | By Nikolai Nekrasov (1821–1877) |
| | (From “Who Can Live Happily in Russia?”)
GOD’S will be done! | |
| No food he’ll try, | |
| The youngest son— | |
| Look, he will die. | |
| |
| A crust I got, | 5 |
| Another bit— | |
| He touched it not: | |
| “Put salt on it!” | |
| |
| Of salt no shred, | |
| No pinch I see! | 10 |
| “Take flour, instead,” | |
| God whispered me. | |
| |
| Two bites, or one— | |
| His mouth he pouts, | |
| The little son. | 15 |
| “More salt!” he shouts. | |
| |
| The bit appears | |
| Again all floured, | |
| And wet with tears | |
| It was devoured. | 20 |
| |
| The mother said | |
| She’d saved her dear…. | |
| Salt was the bread— | |
| How salt the tear! | | | | |
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