A Fly

He is 60.

Looks about 15 years older.

He swayed in the doorway.

He definitely shouldn’t drink more today.

- Thrown out on pension …

Pour me some more!

He smiles with embarrassment, nodding at the table,

Where "Kaluga" vodka bottle and a package of tomato juice

Just started it’s seduction.

A green fly is buzzing about between them and me,

Between something sticky and sweet

And my wasted time.

- Children have established themselves…

The son-in-law has been taken to "Gazprom".

He started smoking.

- Life has run by like the wind …

I remember being just a kid … Then – crack! That’s all …

As if a second ago!

He became silent,

Retired into himself,

Inhaled deeply.

The fly has found, at last, something sticky, sweet,

And it’s rubbing, carefully rubbing the pads –

Between them and me,

Suddenly awkward silence,

And my wasted time…

2009.