"Диета" Саша Черный/ "Diet" Sasha Cherniy

Images: Mila Gee Music: "Renew" by TypoSigns
Here's my rough adaptation of the poem:

Every month as per tradition,
One must renew his news subscription,
Whence one finds his in-depth answers
To any of the herd’s afflictions.

A blasphemer and politician,
A radical and blackguard,
A man of genius and imbecile,
An optimist and whiner,
Within their daily newspaper feed,
They’ll find whatever they need.

Each morning with the greatest care
Having received the printed fare,
I, with a smile of deep content,
Without looking at the pages,
With all the care I can afford
Toss the bundle behind the cupboard.

For an entire month I’ve tried this method,
Suddenly I’m feeling alive!
My morning blind rage no longer plagues me,
From the self-torture I am free,
Moreover, new thoughts are visiting me,
Good appetite is newly found,
My hollow cheeks have grown healthy and round,
Also my liver is now sound.

Free of charge I am willing to share
My new discovery with all
On whom this has taken its injurious toll,
By the life’s miserable reflection
Within those pages they have seen
Of life that’s savage, dumb, dull, and mean.

Each morning with the greatest care
Having received the printed fare,
With all the calm you can afford
Toss the bundle behind the cupboard.

Sasha Cherniy, 1910
Trans. M.G.

Видео "Диета" Саша Черный/ "Diet" Sasha Cherniy канала Mila Gee Reads Poetry