“But I have no belief,” the youth protested,
“But I have no
belief,” the youth protested,
“So whom can I
believe in?”
I replied
That I myself
had never asked this question
But still would
answer it.
“In ancient
times
The savage, his
intelligence distrusting,
In fear and awe
to wooden idols bowed.
But you, young (wo/)
man,
Today should
place full trust in
Your human
reason
And should
stand uncowed.
(David Kugultinov,
Kalmyk poet, Poems of…, Progress Publishers 1977)