Alma Mater
Dmitry Sukharev. "Alma mater"
Translated by Boris Yusem

        

Alma Mater

Alma Mater, Alma Mater, our sails are spread Calm and peaceful are the waters, smooth the road ahead. Alma Mater, Alma Mater, our departure's near Let's embrace, long road awaits us and the coast is clear. Friends forever, we're together And whatever is the weather Out sails gleam white. Light, fair winds for us are blowing Forward is our wessel going. -- Graduation night! Alma Mater, Alma Mater, our ramshacle boat... O'er the stern our years, those traitors, are a heavy load. Iron age... The winds are stormy. There's no light, no star... "Hi, old pal!" -- "Good friend, inform me, who on earth you are?" Let's again embrace each other, Why, I loved you as a brother, Then we were sincere... Now, wherever we are going, Let fair winds be ever blowing, Let the coast be clear! Alma Mater, Alma Mater, our youthful days... We are actors, not spectators of unwritten plays. There's a burden on our shoulders of our grievous age. Let's embrace, we're getting older, time to leave the stage. See, the photo faded, crumpled, Funny youngsters, hair all rumpled, No one yet has died... May fair winds for us be blowing, And our boat still keep on going. -- Graduation night! Berkovsky songbook