Hey People by Nima Yushij (1895-1960)

Hey, you happy people
who are sitting on the shore safe and sound,
with smiles on your face,
someone is drowning in the sea,
someone is constantly struggling
in this dark, heavy, angry sea, that you know it well.
You are extremly happy
when you believe that you are enemy free,
When you think in vain that you've given a hand to a weak person,
to eleminate their weekness,
When you tighten your belts,
When, when, when?
When shall I tell you
that someone is drowning in the sea
and is sacrificing in vain?
Hey, you people over there
who are sitting carelessly on the shore,
with delicious foods on your table,
wearing nice and couzy clothing,
someone is calling you from the sea.
He beats the heavy wave with his tired hand,
his mouth agape, eyes torn wide with terror,
he has seen your shadows from far away,
has swallowed water in the dark blue deep,
each moment his impatience grows more and more.
He waives from the sea
with his arm, at times,
and at times, with his head...
Hey you people there,
he still has his eyes on this old world from a far,
he's shouting and hopes for help.
Hey you people
who are calmly watching from the shore,
the wave beats on the silent shore,
spreads like a drunk fallen on his bed unconscious,
recedes with a roar, and this call comes from afar again:
Hey, you people on the shore...

And the sound of the wind
more heart-rending by the moment,
and his voice gets weaker almost lost in the sounds of the wind;
from waters near and far
again this call is heard:
Hey, you peolpe on the shore...

Tranlated by: J.D. Edited by: Branka D.