Translated by Shashi Martynova
In-sanity
Svetlana Sergeyevna, a senior citizen, in-sane. Svetlana is sightless, searching for syntagms. Sum, stir, significant someone. Svetlana Sergeyevna, searching for syntagms. Seva, a son, serving a stretch, Serezha, a son, a soldier. Significant con-sort Savely, sloshed as a sailor.
See?
Svetlana Sergeevna, so self-strict. Stirs solely situationally. Sticks to steadfast statements:
Sensible?
Soon, succumbed senior sister Serafima. Stench of shriveled senile scalp. Solemnly sobbing spectators. ‘Surrender,’ suggests sympathetic Sonia.
Svetlana Sergeyevna, solid steel. Steady, strong. Svetlana Sergeyevna searches for syntagms: snuffing, shudder, slumber. Stiffens shoulders. Senile spine strains. Stifled streams of salted sorrow. Savory sugar, saccharine salt.
‘Submit, Svetlana,’ suggests Sonia. ‘Sense your soul.’ Svetlana Sergeyevna sniffs, sighs. Sangua’s sounds.
Sound it out?
Senescence seals cessation. Snuffing supports serendipity. Serendipity supports star scripts. Star scripts, sightless.
Svetlana Sergeyevna searches for syntagms, sets supper. Sterling silver, scones, spreads, spirits. Senses suffering’s sound. Significant con-sort Savely, sloshed as a sailor. Scrambles, sells silver.
Senescence sightless. Svetlana, silver-haired, stooped. Shameful of stock. Seva, a son, serving a stretch. Serezha, a son, a soldier. Stench of shriveled senile scalp. Svetlana Sergeyevna soaks sorrows. Stagnant. Sunset. Savory sugar, saccharine salt.
Sun shines.
Svetlana Sergeyevna, sightless, silver-haired, searches for syntagms. Spirits, soldier, SIZO. Swastika, Soviet state, sotka, sanctions. Sympathy, sorrow. Sanctify, safeguard. Senior city of state, sheet, station. Shadows, salon, Sauvignon, Saturday, season, summary. Standard situation.
Sofa squeaks softly. Sugar saucer, sly, salted. Svetlana Sergeyevna steadies. Stares sightless. Surface. Silk spread. Supper. Slips. Stumbles. Sputters. Suddenly snickering. Sun shines, sears.
Svetlana Sergeyevna, in-sanely sunny.
September 2022