by Sadri Hamid,from Ak yul Nr. 27, 1970, page 3
English translation Sabira Ståhlberg
Read the story in Tatar Latin script (original and modern language) and Tatar Cyrillic script (original and modern language)
*
It is Friday in Yañıpar – off homework, a free day.
No need to go to school – what a joy today.
Everywhere you look there are snow drifts – long, high, narrow hills.
Behind our barn – I have not forgotten everything.
Boys have gathered there to toboggan
and nobody is late.
Around twenty-five boys,
in some hands: sheet-metal pieces
to sit and glide on – to join in.
Some have toboggans, sleds – sliding downhill.
Shouting and yelling – all together are making noise.
There is no bigger fun here [in the village] – excitedly to go downhill.
Even the cold does not stop them,
small boys are like that.
Hands of some of them are bare – the poorer boys’.
Also Kulik’s Hasän is there – no lie, really true.
He has made a round chuman*,
of cow manure and water.
Frozen in a sieve grid base – really well done.
The bottom shines like ice – just like a bird,
he overtakes all – upsetting the others’ enjoyment.
Sibat’s grandchildren are here, too – their sleighs are made of elm.
Badas’s boys have also come – chumans hangingfrom hands.
Among the boys is Kulik’s Аbbas – everyone is staring at him.
He is skiing downhill – he is maybe tall one arshin**.
He has himself made them of wood – how did he managed to get them on?
Boldly he slides down, boys begin chasing him.
Hösäyen and the Аbdılhaks are also there,
enthusiastic to toboggan.
They have brought a bigger sledge – they always use the same.
It can carry ten boys – what else could be as much fun?
Together they go downhill,
sweating when pulling [the sledge] uphill.
In such manner the day passes gliding – some boys’ trousers are worn through
when in gliding on bums only – in the evening their mothers run after them:
“There is a hole in your trouser bottom”, they say.
“How can I patch it up, now?” they ask.
It was like this when I was young – a boy comradeship time.
Writing this I became emotional – not one of them is there anymore.
*chuman – a slider made of manure and water which has frozen in a sieve bottom
**arshin – older length measure, around 70–80 cm