Trafika Europe 7 - Ukrainian Prayer

Tango of Death

us, and then Yas kept poking the eagle, and he retreated to the edge of the branch, until he jumped down, but he would not leave the cage. Maybe his wings are clipped, Yosko said. Then I answered we’ll take him away with us. And finally Yas chased the eagle out of the cage, who jumped to the ground, looked around, fluttered his wings, as if he were shaking off all the sparrows’ crap, and then soared up into the sky. The next day all the newspapers reported the news, and then from that time on the management of the menagerie had to hire better guards, instead of the old granddad, whowas dozing in a booth at the entrance. As I’m writing this, spring is outside the windows, something disturbing can be sensed in the air, and I want this spring never to end.... _____

his eyes were so sad that it seemed like he was no longer alive, though he kept on living, but he didn’t see any meaning of life, he was dying like an ember, and he looked as if he had been bespattered with white lime, was all pockmarked, but it was not lime, it was tiny sparrows sittingontopof thecagewhich had no roof, but rods, and they were crapping on him, gaily chirping and fluttering their wings. Evidently this pursuit provided unusual pleasure for them, and the eagle, resigned to his fate, only blinked his eyes sadly and sometimes just shifting his weight from one foot to the other. While looking at him, we felt like crying, but we didn’t begin to cry, but at night snuck into the zoo cage and quietly opened the door wide open, but the eagle didn’t move. Then Yas took a stick and poked him. The eagle startled and looked at

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