The Flying Proletariat by VV Mayakovsky - English (1925)

Originally composed in 1925 by communist VV Mayakovsky, I know of no scholarly translations of this excellent dieselpunk poem. I hereby offer this (poorly) autotranslated version in an attempt to expose The Flying Proletariat to our Western audience. Should you know of a proper translation, or are willing to provide us with one, please contact me. Thank you.

The work is set in the far future of 2125 and features a giant air battle, with death rays and such, between the Soviet proletarian and the American bourgeois air forces. The latter prevails until an uprising of New York workers against their government turns the tide. Mayakovsky's communist future is all comfort and electric ease: electric razors, electric toothbrushes, everybody with his own private airplane (Moscow no longer has any streets, just airports). Labor is wholly mechanized, so that a worker merely operates a keyboard.

Altogether, Mayakovsky's utopia is written from the viewpoint of a laborer who is tired of backbreaking, dirty work... There are no kitchens, no housework. People eat in aerocafeterias and amuse themselves with cosmic cinemas, cosmic dances, and such — all nonalcoholic (alcohol is served by prescription only). The sport of the future is avio-polo — football has long since been abandoned as crude and boring.

PREFACE

The "Truth" is written is true. In "The News" - news. Facts. Though'll just put on the table. A poet interested in and what will be two hundred years or - in a hundred.

I

THE WAR THAT WILL NOW

When the turn over sheet of newspaper we pick and news from abroad marsh, stumble - invented by scientists imperialistovy: the gas, the beam, the unmanned aircraft. With them, chicken bitter fate? help mankind, Rays scratch? "No - with the skies are preparing a new lasso around the neck of the workers and peasants . Decade page all crammed gazetin death - injury, grief... But this nonsense seem carnage in horror to come phantasmagoria................................

2125.

The sky handful complex (star begging). The evening was, to put it simply. The sky, as always, appeared aeroplanchik. Normal - recording - "Aerorosta. Moscow. Muscovites povylezli on the roofs of houses sorokaetazhnyh communes. - Let's see what it... Pro that prescribe. Who? Who? When? Who? -

Anxiety.

airman opened the burning gas, brought in the sky frame. brought out in large letters: ORDER. MOBILIZATION. And then - a telegram: Report. Observers. eastern shore. reported: "Exactly - five to eight, despite being early, the enemy put out the beacon extreme. "Rocket. lit in the darkness of cooking - a feverish pace. wing to wing in the wings of wings, the first, second, hundredth of a squadron. Another rocket! erupted. Did you see? derived from the hangar fighters." Encrypt. Stam gave the Soviet guard posts. Procedure model. We fly across the path, in the trenches of the gas screen. "Over the reports - an appeal:" Comrades, it is clear! "The threat - Europe and Asia in red. America - the broken bulwark of the bourgeoisie - to us raises air fleet. Do not dug a hole in the working class.'s hand - at wheel! Eye - the gas! "It seemed, gas, and lethal dushnenky already enveloped millions of animals. hurry up. They grabbed headphones. thrown into the radio:" Hallo, hallo! "Motor fell silent alarm otgarkav. was extinguished at the top of phosphorescent light. And people deduced from dvuhmestki angarikov, flying - with his wife - a district council. Doletevshim half met - have visited the headquarters. Over there, "There!" Where da bomb mines laid arsenalschik in a terrible pile.

radio broadcast.

- Comrades to the meeting! - Radio clicked. Masses of whipping up the sea rapidly. And on the Red Square flew vosmikrylka - hiking Comintern forum. Do not ever forget this picture. The masks, gas mask to dress the land sprawling fantastic layout. And at the top - chairman of the Comintern: - "Comrades!" Today, America is the Union of Workers imposes war! - From Shanghai to the Irish coast - the phrase immediately over the airwaves.

Aviamobilizatsiya.

Today, forget sleep and sleepiness. artificial sun of a billion candles included, and from the airport to the airstrip bustled machine sleepless Muscovites. Light scouts dreadnoughts of aluminum... And gazodezhde, muscles knotty, working suspension mine timbering; bombs - leaflets stuffed body. Military staff the machines were broken into small groups. kroili sky; their place mentioned. nock at the stars - the territory of the coming battles. airman. Next - kids (my brother) to wear a helmet helped him . And he explained the forerunners of October Scout, which is why anxiety, and that - to this: - From Europe from Asia drove the...... An,, they - go pricked up skis - in America, I mean. In connector. Over the Ocean . And there - their. Bourgeois. Coolidge. We then forgot and addressed them. build factories. extol the tube. And they are not asleep. They have - chemistry. stink gas. gnashing their teeth. Well, and decided - came to the point. The bombs have . In the house - in volume. stone to stone, a leaf on a piece will not leave.... They certainly will if we do not beat .-

Next.

One car slid smoothly. has fallen, looks... That would be yet? Then rushed - as if delighted - signaled: "Commander in Chief. I order you: It's time!" Forward! "And to Mars screw otmashet! Otzemlilis raised voice. And the air is booming in long-standing march.

Marsh.

Youree The bourgeois climb in to the most neby vault. proletarian comrades, get on a plane! Get out before, breeders, whistling through the clouds. We - the pilots of the republic of workers and peasants. What does not pass the cavalry, which did not pass his feet - there is only a pilot, chasing birds enemy. Forward! through the clouds, mounds! fly, wings flashing. We - pilots republic of workers and peasants! pomerte himself with the enemy, the way blood rdya; until nebey firmament of the commune is approved. Our flag is the stars splashing, workers' power growing. We - the pilots, we - women pilots of workers and peasants! * * *

Start.

First, the scouts swung in a semicircle. For the scouts - fighter arc, and behind them gazonostsy lined up in the corner. The clouds of screws swings at random. And behind them, almost closing mnogooky multiplied lanterns firmament, flew a huge than the ship docks, hangars - once to 500 airplanes. When rotations were cut - in a thousand ways and debugging roaring crowds of the surrounding shops svistogolosiem sirens and whistles. behind them went carts, masked by the color gray.... Quiet You - did not descend on the cart! .. arsenals, storehouses of medicines, food... Beneath them the earth curved bowl. We waited for each concrete clearing. Leninskaya squadron flew out from under the Minsk... joined winged Smolensk... Higher, higher screwed pilots.... And quite high - even higher. otshumel Marsh. Machines - points. Below - squinted and threw the roof. verified. There - oxygen and water. I'm going car in a moment of serving. and climbed inspected the wires and drive on the breastplate of gas-impermeable basement. On defense! factories humming. A crane-personnel mines degree. Under the land from the enemy's gas leaving, ran the factory life.

Hike.

flew. Birds in awe at.... We flew propeller, a star shines in the darkness of it? flew... Upwards before that - the frost on the body .... Sami flew himself did catch up with barely flew. with a clock speed works wonders: went to two full days, two of the sun - about 24 hours, and twice the moon rising. When a train caught up with the earth's rotation - a hundred places peremahival eyes. And Dial showed them a fixed hour. whirled, rent the air the whole. kinks in his mouth agape, hardly a hand, lose weight, vystruivali oxygen. crashed scouts in the storm and thunder and throwing thunderous stupor, rushed to the surface of the ocean and swam the nucleus, raspenivshi water . floating mine blew up one. And immediately all the rest hurried into the water to leave, stopping all exit armor steel. welled up, passing a dangerous place, shaking the drops from the propellers, and again in the firmament, and pylayusch rdyan, cars dot vkrapili.... minutes flew by .. .... day of the week flew by.... Through the scattering of the sun, through the shallows Lunow fly.

attack.

Head quietly moves on two leather cushion wound plan. All is quiet. And then - threw himself a stone - an airplane. Nothing. Only luchische elongated smashing his big hands. woke up in the desert mirages, one hundred thousand cars an enemy's squadron. would aim the beam, the extermination of cooking, with ten sides - not less - whistling, flying, racing monster - a light, steel, aluminum. shook the wind machine river. heels left on the slope. On the right wing gets three "K", three black "K" - the Ku Klux Klan. And the wind from the other side nalez, right swung indiscriminately - and the mob shot up on the left wing fascist flourish. Secunda. Rassmerchilis furiously. And there is. disappeared, the gas curtains. Each aero, with each side, as if a spark - the gas tank blew up two words of the heart: "Alert!" The enemy! "

Aerobitva.

not discern the horizon drained. The sky, air, water - together! "And in this blue - the last battle. Red, white - the last fight. incredible battle, not a single gromyhaniyka! Neither nuclei nor bullets can not see past the I - only screws furious mechanic, but some rays but chemistry. pursued, fond of fishing, and suddenly - turned back. drooped arms and his face purple - had climbed out his eyes glassy. Squadron, the attackers, the clouds were dug. Floodlight eye opening round - and there is no any squadrons. Just drop down the debris and ashes. Sometimes, the invisible tower with the tower came together, and then rattled this one. The old fought hand to hand in two boarding Air dreadnought. One is broken, and at once - an idyll: the defenseless, like puppies in hangars broken dreadnoughts were introduced, but here in the air klepaya and harassing. Four times during the night, pockmarked with stars gave way to days of coats, but still growing, expanding battle zvereet from day to day. In the battle died the fifth day. The enemy withdrew at the moment. And after 1000 clearly visible and horrible car went straight. In the attack, In the rays! - Not turned the summer. In Gas! - And the gas was not sick. Invulnerable, rod without pilots. All the sweep on the road. * * *

Bending.

Komandav frowned. it seems - cover! throw our, screws vzmashet - and drops a fly, its wings folded. ours - is bad. They move away ours. Employment - net. dropped a ton. No harm, no pain, no wounds... And the city swept away without a groan ton of suffocating gas trash. Tens of capital consumed the invisible one, sparing no gas. The most advanced machines to Moscow rod, as on parade, as the show already... hoping called lying. But pilots, the duty of carrying out his, airplanes rings, spirals, crowding in on Moscow. "diffused in all heavenly bosom, in the whole machine inflexible spirit, the enemy was flying, was advancing steadily. early - at four miles, in two... broke out in the black part of the news of imminent clarity. radio blare : - Revolution in Danger! - Gride writhed and quiet person - a screw hatches Moscow basement tenants. Above shows: Moore - so crowded, and those - yes a Zeppelins - the Urals. Grab their wives and children. Grow and multiply in the heavenly calico oncoming car, a pea. We threw! Now break out! Now gazobomby befall abandoned. Well, prepared to die suffocating. We have a slope, praying mercy? strained throughout the tremendous strength of the air, fell silent Soviet soil.

victory.

And suddenly...- can not believe it! - As if someone pulled the accursed machines at once. Surprisingly poluvylezshim our pilots, are twisted and fell to the ground. Not daring to enjoy - not catch it? Down, perhaps land parade? - Motors jabbered, groaned and rushed to the scene. Declined to land crowding... In the pit, fallen mangled - fragments of aluminum, nickel... No catch. So. Exactly. Aviators climbed. Foreheads-fold. A thousand questions. The answer - it. And only in the early morning radio clue: - New York. Everyone! Everyone! Everyone!

Radio.

the workers, peasants and flight personnel greet the pilots of the first squadron. Let razillyuminuyut Moscow is a million candles. From this moment forever elude war. We - the squadron of Muscovites - have broken through. We have not seen. Under the water - to America flight. soared. At night, the speakers set. zabasili And in New York, at all. "Workers Comrades and brothers, soon eh nations dope shatter? For some pieces of silver, on which board you are betraying us, the Europeans now play off against each: - Go! Europe are enveloped in a gas plague! - A return winner tomorrow, so here you have loaded on the yoke. What you Darren bourgeois life? too tight of you is blood, sweat. merged with us in one of solidarity. In one commune - no slaves, no masters! "The police - for the fox the fox - in aerosipedah... spotlights the band... in vain! - Swaying rhythmically, voices loudspeakers fanned the best orators of the Comintern. Nothing! "To contact either, nor take him - the radio. They seem to have - confusion. Send the workers, the police backs. And if the city lights lit - uprising of the flag flag. We cooked mine billionaires put a domino effect. banners myself sprinkling, attacked the arsenal. Just like in Moscow had developed a century ago, the October storm. Bierut, a mile razbasiv thunder, break locks ingenious array. Radiofort... guarding - to throw off. attacked. They have taken half. In the other! Fight, about an hour hot. grasped a lever.... more ripped spun... a moment - and then too - at least moments - like a thousand and strunisch ragged howl! AND tyscha monsters lay near Moscow.

Joy.

In "Hurrah!" shuddering mouths still wanted to scream and yell their fill - and look at all the heavens telegrammischu traced radiorosta:" Peace! "The people had finished fighting. Long live the moment of this!" The Great American Federation joins the Union of Councils! doubt - in anyone. Signature: "The American Revolutionary Committee."

The Return.

In the morning came from the west point. rushed, yourself, and march to grow: "We - the pilots of the republic of workers and peasants. No wonder flying - cleared neby vault. Peasant! Proletariat! Reduce plane! rolled down breeders, the clouds whistling . We are the pilots - a republic of workers and peasants, do not enter the enemy: the cavalry, nor a bird nor a leg. Our pilot around chasing the enemy forces. Our flag is the stars splashing, workers' power growing. We - pilots, we - the pilots of the workers and peasants. " * * *

II

Future BYT today.

room - this, of course, not wood. It is not no picnic to organize, no battles. But did not for me - damned with accommodation: for mine, with complexion - lived a couple of yards! old men and a lady with a pugs, children without an account - this population. Not flat and Eskimo or smoked Kyrgyz village. The child - this is not you a puppy. All day - work hard. So he gave you a ball knocked down, then locks the hook in the bathroom. Between belongings - path of the Crimean roundabout. The noise was furious and very gentle. All day - calls the bell. herd, alone, lingering, short... And for that slot - between cells and pickles, which have no place to even stick lip nosishsya all day, waving off eviction by federal mandate, the paper cube. come back at night, exhausted in the city. Morda - in the foam, - wash it down. In the darkness in the washroom Lupita in the face by someone with talent hung laundry. Br-rr-r ! nauseous fumes kitchen. I get up on his haunches. am drawn to the window sill nose to the window. I see in the sky - scuffling aeroplanova. bends to the glass, hammered into the frame. That someone should remake anew our sardinochny dull life!

Will.

Year some all zeros raznulitsya . Otgremyat recent battle-thunder. In Moscow there will be no alley or the street - some airfields da house.'s dark, uncertain days to come to us. But - for the jokes portray the future citizen, conducting one day.

Morning.

Eight. Screams gentle alarm clock / radio: " Comrade - get up, do not sleep if you will! plant - calling. While there is no alarm clock orders? "Goodbye!" Hi! "Half awake, but all - in the business hurried on, a citizen turned elektrosamobritel. Minute - brushed cheeks - not even a citizen of Venus de Milo smoother. stuck plug, opened his lips: electro - Jurk! - And vyblestila teeth. Servant - no! "Button titles, she splashed underneath a bathroom. Soaped at the beginning - and went: scrubbing and bast. Rang - a citizen under the nose bring your own tea tray. Dress - no jackets or pants, shirt numbers are not too tight narrow. Go clothed from toe to hand silk-cut piece of genius. In her shoes - a pair of legs... the window - the call. Straight to the bed of the Heavenly Lawn vparhivaet winged postman. No - the order to move out, or - with the tax agenda. Letter from the beloved and more friendly.'s son runs, healthy, baby. - Goodbye, flying by the university. - And where are the characters? - It flutters in the garden with a nanny.

to work.

Through the room - the elevator. I sat down - and went to the roof surface rastsvetochennoy. K job keeping the course, to the very eaves flies airship. The thought (not wanting to cheat), a citizen tried to sit on the fly. Making the most polite person, a citizen stopped aviamilitsiya. Neither the Protocol nor the fine saber... Only - politely reprimand. out of his gondola on different tones shouting familiar fliers: - "Comrade, why rush? Drop! fly like something with his wife to visit: If you are free - an hour on the floor at zaparhivayte aviabol! - All right!" And you want peresest "Sit down, have a seat in a gondola! - Moved... Fifteen minutes. And now - a citizen comes to the place of work.

Work.

Zavod. Glavvozduh. Do they do the air pressed for interplanetary communications. Kubik to stall - any width, and one day pine spirit breathe. So - in an age aforesaid from "Maggie" made broth. Just worked out of the clouds, artificial cream and milk. soon forget about the cow's name. Is it so much to milk from cow's udder! Factory. sorokayarusnym Corps. dismounted. Forty - a frenzied fervor. net-net. No soot or soot. razvez Lift one per floor. No Hood or folk! One keyboard - like the "Underwood." Good work! easy - and so, and now on the radio - the music in tact. Bey letters, which should, as everything else will finish motors. Four hours. flashed briefly. And everyone - from the air, with sour cream, and milk. skuksites not as sleepy owl. weekday - four hours. briskly, like a squirrel... more cheerful. under the shower! and over - Ray dinner!

Lunch.

Departed. kiddies. shouted: - Silence! - Overtook the school flying kids. - Where are the kids? Time for dinner! - No food, no life! Flies served aerostolovye Narpita. Stahl and sat down, took it and ate it. Do you want - from two, do you want - out of five - for any spirit, any appetite. Utensils - samoubirayuschayasya. Ate - and won! To hold the ear radio background. growled, kids petting: Give Chuhlomskuyu! municipality Chuhlomskaya? .. Please - Ivanova ten! - - Whose? Shave? - - No. Mustached! .. - How are you? Good afternoon. - And here - just flew over the fence. Pasu herd. And what do you want? - - Like what? "Long painful not met. Aviabolny blew the match. - - Okay! Even with them graze for an hour and plan at six o'clock. Maybe it'll be late... I think - not too much. The village asked the little tricks. Bread - zharoyu emasculated, so I manage with artificial clouds. It is necessary to make rain, so that - without hail . Goodbye! -

Classes.

Now - to learn. Citizen in a moment flies to the highest institution of sour cream. Combining the latest technical data, studies in the laboratory of sour cream business... We've got - the different categories of occupations. For example - loaded laborers, and poetry - to the spiritual know it. Then there will be more honorable and less... and cobblers, and thrush - all geniuses. * * *

Game.

An hour later - at home. Recreation. Change. Instead blouses - costume athlete. In racing, every wind is cleaner, prêt, capturing a large myachische. Sky - a nimble aircraft. The figures for adults, children figurines. And old povylezli forgetting apathy. Reds - on the yellow. Party - the Party. vysotischi threw the ball with that sort, and you fly up, pick up a net. Frankly, football - longing. Lesson Is that - for a horse race. And here - good shoes - not worn out. Nose You the ball is not bloodied. All somersault - should be whether, slide on the tail, wrapped around the loop. Finally, one misses a net. Then: - Ur-rr-ah! scored! - Up, down, up, down - to tip over and slide back. Neither the breath out of breath, or acidic mine - if not the responsible officials, and - Dolphins. If the rain with the wind swooped down in a pair - rise up above the clouds, and would read more. Nightfall, and game stop laziness; Gonna sun, and - again a day. Finally got tired of throwing from a catch. dropped and flew into the dining room window. button. Press. Desk tea.'s son says: - The accident broke a wing. moved to Petka, and then b late for a lesson in arithmetic. was released on the hour (no lessons), flew with Petya caught a comet. B-oh-oh-oh-lshuschaya! a mile - increase. barely kept together by the tail. And then throw - very painful. In school, the comet not allowed to carry .- Sister: - Today, the wind rolled coil with three thousand meters. I had to decline - a thread reel. Aj all the wind was lohmatovaya .- A younger all the work of INEC. He sits and writes in his diary: "Today at school - practical lesson. decide - or not there is a God. In our opinion - religion is opium. inspected the image - a copy of the gods. And then the teacher came flying around the heavens. convinced - by yourself! Sky inspected inside and outside. No gods, no angels are not found " . and Daddy, so as not to lose a single moment, the radio vybubnivaet pages of the books...

Evening.

Call. - Hello! not make out the name of me... Oh, that's you! Hello, darling! "I'm going! Immediately!" In five minutes the sky peremahnu full length. In this weather is going very well. Wait for a cloud - under the Great Bear. Goodbye! - I sat down, and stepped back area of the building... cheek - to cheek, to waist - waist - the sky about three times overflew. Paths at the Milky comet curvature, and back - a colt - Tethered airplane. Prostor! You - not Petrovsky Park, where all rubbed backyards parkas. On the move says the former in the 25th year. - Today listened radioknizhki Yes.... They were not days dnishki. You'll find little room, and then - no honey. The House Committee ahead, tax inspector data. And then - Grace! Vista - they're all right. Universe! Take - at random. Then in the spring were dragged to the country. We went by rail. panting and crawling a little bit. All the same, that the swallow on its feet, so that was, walking with the legs on the leg. Minimize go through the woods - not! Keep rail. And then there was in ancient times were called trucks. Also - my pochtenitse - way soobschenitsa! through the air - it is impossible. on the water - can not. Through the woods - it is impossible. A house - too. Well Tell me, does this machine? tires burst, trouble - the mass. Even in the light could not vzlazit. But now - broke down. Now I want - and to the side rinus. Is it - riding a locomotive! "Primus" Now put the wing and the wheels but along the house he took and he was seen. And wanted to stay - there's - Vinnitsa, that's you - Nice. Patients during signified it articulate sunbathing. In the afternoon, and then folded hands - wait, got to the beam due to cloud. But now you fly even with the Pole itself. get warm! Use it! ..- favorite days gone mnyatsya. And underneath the city, village sweep in illumination - daily entertainment! Radio Urals to Siberia for all concerts, screaming. Shalya such notes nalyapany that burst with envy b all Chaliapin . And then in the cinematic rage through the clouds - mile mirages. It's not "Art" yes "ARS", where the walls close in - but the pit floor. From the ground up to the Mars becomes, even stalls, although tier. Finally - in the future and This will be - right across the sky bred dancing. No stamping, no cloud of dust, gracefully arching wings, fuck skillfully and with ardor fantastic quadrille. And in the radio - a storm a quadrille. millions flying around the tables. Drink and cooling off - call only. Alcohol. From cobbler and to tailor - no one makes and the smell of alcohol. The patient - a glass of the norm, and it takes under chloroform. No one was sickened no stanza.'s not a life, and - sure have! communicate this to fellow poets sorrow. Not like today - with thousands turning out for poetry, from which is bad. And then - good! "No dispute, no meeting, not one - culture! Poldvenadtsatogo. Radio shouted: - Citizens, remember - it's time to sleep! - From the rapidity zasvistevshi as much straight from the hustle and bustle of the ball a citizen, as he turned a sharp turn, enters the bedroom window. Tears from an airplane. Button. Touch! Plane was formed, and - in a corner like an umbrella. Section. The membrane - three words: - wake up tomorrow half to eight! - Turned on its side contented citizen, yawned and closed his eyes. So spent his days in citizen XXX century. * * *

III

APPEAL.

Winged days distant date. joy not soon to proclaim him: - Here they are! - I - coming days agitator - to them at least for getting his step today. So that you become like children bird in a gondola in a comfortable sitting down - the fire in your eyes every day tychem letters - O. D. VF that future bright, happy hour, you flew in the sky either - now rolling stones broken to death, Khodinka vplyuschivshis forehead. So that in the next century the life of a Human rocket sped into the sky - and I was tired every evening, so These lines are written. Work! "Peasant!" Check to the touch, and that the heavens - yours! Stotridtsatimillionnoyu might desire to fly drink! enough to crawl like a louse! found - roam wherever! Give us the sky! themselves vykropim rye - the clouds spill over the bread. Give us the sky ! Words sharpened knife thrust in the coming tall tale! Give us the sky!

1925