The Last Warrior

This is a very loose translation of a the song "The Last Warrior" by a Russian band. I'd like to dedicate it to the last Anarchist, Nestor Makno

My labored heartbeat is telling me I’m not dead.
Through my scorched eyelids I see the sun rising again.
But as I open my eyes, towering over me stands
The Greatest Terror, for which there is no name.
They came at us like a mud slide, engulfing the land.
They brushed us off to the side and they stained us with filth.
Our black flags have been trampled into the wet sand.
They’ve destroyed everything; they had all of us killed.

 

They came at us like a mud slide, engulfing the land.
They brushed us off to the side and they stained us with filth.
Our black flags have been trampled into the wet sand.
They’ve destroyed everything; they had all of us killed.
And I could peacefully die on the soot covered floor,
Or maybe steal me a boat and flee in the night,
And be the last one of us to survive in this war.
But I spit at them.  I tell myself " get up and fight!

 

My labored heartbeat is telling me I’m not dead.
Through my scorched eyelids I see the sun rising again.
But as I open my eyes, towering over me stands
The Greatest Terror, for which there is no name.
All that is left here are shadows, ashes and stone.
This land cannot be redeemed; it’s been pillaged and raped.
And all that we have believed in and fought for is gone,
Still, I cling onto my shield and raise my useless blade.

 

The last defender of a dead land…

 

We cannot win in this battle I’m fighting in vain.
But truth won’t die on this field; truth is hard to resist.
They don’t have the right to see the sun rising again,
If you ask me, they do not have the right to exist.
I know we stand no chance, but I will not give up.
I’m gathering all my troops.  There is no holding back.
There is no one left alive, so the dead must get up.
I shout: “Follow me!” and I order: “Attack!”

 

The last defender of a dead land…
The last defender of a dead land…
The last defender of a dead land…

 

Reviews

[emmajoy]

I had to read about Nestor Makhno to understand the fervour and power of this poem, or rather - your interpretation of the song; seems that his representation in the lyrics is a call to arms by both the dead and living. The run of phrase repeats in many of the lines also emphasise the emotions running throught your writing. I need to find a video showing the band, if there is one .. have my own idea of how the words and music will be: slow, quiet, building into a roar, then, silence. Probably very wrong, will see. Such an unusual piece of writing, Julie, but a privilege to read because of its source.