Új Dunatáj, 2005 (10. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)

2005 / 1. szám - JÓZSEF ATTILA-VERSEK (ANGOL NYELVEN)-ZOLLMAN PÉTER FORDÍTÁSAI - Kész a leltár

József Attila • Versek

25

THE AUDIT IS DONE

I’ve trusted always in myself, alone.

This hasn’t cost me dear, for what I own

is absolutely nothing. Or at least

not more than it would cost a slaughtered beast.

I held my own in spite of fear and doubt —

I lived, I blended in and I stood out.

I gave as good as they were giving me,

I paid with love when someone gave me free and when a woman led me on and teased I trusted her, why not? Let her be pleased!

I scrubbed the deck, I heaved the bucket rope, to clever gents I played the stupid dope.

I peddled whirligigs, bread, paperbacks, whatever sold, poems and almanacs.

To die in bed one day, that’s what I hope, not in a battle, and not on a rope.

The audit’s done. The facts are simply these:

I’ve lived — and people die of this disease.

1936