Uprising

David Zinovyev
Translation from Russian Vilen Chernyak

It is on “Umschlagplatz” an ordinary day,
An ordinary mess from vehicles and crowd.
My Jewish pain, in me, it is not gone away
From memory and heart, though does not speak aloud.

They should obeying die without any voice
In Treblinka somewhere, in other camps, in ghettos.
But many have refused, they made their own choice -
With weapon in the arms to fall in bloody battle.

Surrounded by fire, embraced by dreadful smoke,
They fought against the tanks with crosses on the towers.
Jewish combatants stood so firmly like a rock,
They have not recognized despised predators’ power.

The ghetto was burned up. The April sky was grey.
The courage of the men caused in the fascists fever.
The heroes opposed to enemies, and they
Forced German scum to drown in daily bloody rivers.

And this is Mornow place, the staff of the revolt.
From here was driven foe over the ghetto’s fender.
It is a holy place where Antsilevich called
His fellows to stand and die but not surrender.

That legendary time gave birth to many names,
The fathers and the sons fought courageously and bravely.
They died on Warsaw streets, but the immortal fame
Is living to the pride of their grateful families.

They killed the enemies, the coward fascist beasts,
As much as possible in heavy cruel battles.
Their slogan was just one: “To stand and to resist!”.
They knew that they will die but not like silent cattle.

The city is restored, no signs of “Umschlagplatz”.
The heroes lie in graves which are not much attended.
But we remember them, remember tragic past,
The heroes are alive in hearts of their descendants.

Like ever-burning fire it burst into the souls,
Like thunderstorm and like a sudden splash,
It boils in our hearts, it in the darkness glows,
The memory, which will be always fresh.
 
Oh, memory!  You are a sacred burden.
We swear not to forget but to avenge.
Like Warsaw heroes, we will be firm and sturdy,
And go just ahead, and no way will we blench.

The enemy deserved the final mortal blow,
The joy of victory was raised like an ocean tide,
But how much till now do we owe
To those who for us were in the battles died?

We all remember victims of the violence.
We honor them, we pay the tribute them.
On Day of Ha-Shoah we are staying keeping silence.
No sympathy from Europe - what a shame!

Despite of heavy days, despite of Holocaust,
My people are alive, to heroes congener.
They have built Israel, a powerful outpost,
Continuing to fight, accustomed be the winners!