Read online “The Son of an Artilleryman. Konstantin Simonov - Son of an artilleryman: Verse Nothing can us

Artilleryman's son:

Was with Major Deev
Comrade - Major Petrov,
We were still friends with a civilian,
Ever since the twenties.
Together they chopped whites
Checkers on the run
They later served together
In the artillery regiment.

And Major Petrov
There was Lenka, beloved son,
Without a mother, at the barracks,
The boy grew up alone.
And if Petrov is away, -
It used to be, instead of a father
His friend stayed
For this tomboy.

Will call Deev Lenka:
- Well, let's go for a walk:
Son of an artilleryman
It's time to get used to the horse!
Together with Lenka will go
At a trot, and then into the quarry.
It used to be that Lenka saved,
Can't take the barrier
Falls off and whines.
- It's clear, still a kid! -

Deev will raise him
Like a second father.
Putting him back on the horse:
- Learn, brother, to take barriers!

Don't die twice.
Nothing in our life can
Kick out of the saddle!-
Such a saying
Major had.

Another two or three years have passed
And carried away
Deeva and Petrova
Military craft.
Deev left for the North
I even forgot the address.
Seeing you would be great!
He didn't like letters.
But that must be why
That he himself did not expect children,
About Lenka with some sadness
He often remembered.

Ten years have passed.
Silence is over
Thunder rumbled
Over the homeland war.
Deev fought in the North;
In the polar wilderness
Sometimes in the newspapers
Looking for names of friends.

Once I found Petrov:
“So, alive and well!”
He was praised in the newspaper
Petrov fought in the South.
Then, coming from the South,
Someone told him
That Petrov, Nikolai Yegorych,
Heroically died in the Crimea.
Deev took out a newspaper,
He asked: "What date?"
And with sadness I realized that the mail
Been here too long...

And soon in one of the cloudy
northern evenings
Assigned to Deev's regiment
There was Lieutenant Petrov.
Deev sat over the map
With two smoldering candles.
A tall soldier entered
Oblique fathom in the shoulders.
In the first two minutes
The major did not recognize him.
Only the lieutenant's bass
Reminds me of something.
- Well, turn to the light, -
And brought a candle to him.
All the same baby lips
The same snub nose.
And what a mustache - so it is
Shave! - and the whole conversation.
- Lenka? - That's right, Lenka,
He is the best, comrade major!

- So, he graduated from school,
Let's serve together.
It's a pity, until such happiness
Father did not have to live.-
Lenka's eyes flashed
An unwelcome tear.
He gritted his teeth silently
Wiped the sleeve of the eye.
And again the major had to
As in childhood, tell him:
- Hold on, my boy: in the world
Don't die twice.
Nothing in our life can
Kick out of the saddle!-
Such a saying
Major had.

And two weeks later
There was a heavy battle in the rocks,
To help everyone out, I must
Someone risk themselves.
The major summoned Lenka to himself,
Looked straight at him.
- By your command
Appeared, comrade major.
- Well, it's good that you showed up.
Leave the documents to me.
You will go alone, without a radio operator,
Radio on the back.
And across the front, over the rocks,
At night in the German rear
Walk along this path
Where no one has gone.
You'll be there on the radio
Fire batteries.
Is it clear? - Yes, it is.
- Well, go quickly.
No, wait a little.-
Major stood up for a second
As in childhood, with two hands
Lenka pressed to himself: -
You go to such a thing
It's hard to come back.
As a commander, I
I'm not happy to send it there.
But as a father... Answer me:
Am I your father or not?
- Father, - Lenka told him
And hugged him back.

So, like a father, once it happened
Fight for life and death
My father's duty and right
Risk your son
Before others I must
Send your son forward.
Hold on my boy: in the light
Don't die twice.
Nothing in our life can
Kick out of the saddle!-
Such a saying
Major had.
- Got me? - Got it.
May I go? - Go! -
The major remained in the dugout,
The shells were bursting ahead.
Somewhere it rumbled and roared.
The Major watched the clock.
It would be a hundred times easier for him
If only he walked on his own.
Twelve ... Now, probably,
He went through the posts.
Hour ... Now he got
To the bottom of the height.
Two ... He must now be
Crawls to the very ridge.
Three ... Hurry to
The dawn did not catch him.
Deev went out into the air -
How bright the moon shines
Couldn't wait until tomorrow
Damn her!

All night, walking like a pendulum
Major did not close his eyes,
While on the radio in the morning
The first signal came:
- It's all right, I got it.
Germans left me
Coordinates three, ten,
Hurry, let's fire! -
The guns were loaded
The major calculated everything himself,
And with a roar the first volleys
They hit the mountains.
And again the signal on the radio:
- Germans right me,
Coordinates five, ten,
More like fire!

Earth and rocks flew
A column of smoke rose
It seemed that now from there
Nobody gets out alive.
The third signal on the radio:
- Germans around me,
Hit four, ten
Spare no fire!

The Major turned pale when he heard:
Four, ten - just right
The place where his Lyonka
Must sit now.
But without showing it,
Forgetting that he was a father,
Major continued to command
With a calm face
"Fire!" - shells flew.
"Fire!" - charge quickly!
Square four, ten
There were six batteries.
The radio was silent for an hour
Then came the signal:
- He was silent: deafened by the explosion.
Hit like I said.
I believe my shells
They can't touch me.
The Germans are running, click,
Give me a sea of fire!

And at the command post
Having received the last signal,
Major in deaf radio
Unable to bear it, he shouted:
- You hear me, I believe:
Do not take such death.
Hold on my boy: in the light
Don't die twice.
No one in our life can
Kick out of the saddle!-
Such a saying
Major had.

The infantry went on the attack -
Was clear by noon.
From the fleeing Germans
Rocky height.
There were corpses everywhere
Wounded but alive
Was found in the Lenka Gorge
With a tied head.
When the bandage was unwound,
What hastily he tied up,
The major looked at Lenka
And suddenly he did not recognize him:
He was like the old one
Calm and young
All the same eyes of a boy
But only ... completely gray-haired.

He hugged the major before
How to go to the hospital:
- Hold on, father: in the world
Don't die twice.
Nothing in our life can
Kick out of the saddle!-
Such a saying
Now Lenka had ...

Here's the story
About these glorious deeds
On the Middle Peninsula
Was told to me.
And above, above the mountains,
The moon was still floating
Explosions were close,
The war continued.
The phone crackled, and, worrying,
The commander walked along the dugout,
And someone just like Lenka,
Went to the Germans today in the rear.

Song from the movie "Officers"
Words by Leonid Agranovich.
Muses. Raphael Hozak
Use Vladimir Zlatoustovsky

LENKA IS ALIVE, THE SON OF THE ARTILLERIST!

I wrote the poem "The Son of an Artilleryman" in one sitting, literally in one day, in Arkhangelsk in November forty-one, returning from Murmansk to Moscow.

The story, which I based the poem on, was told to me on the Rybachy Peninsula by the commander of the 104th artillery regiment, Major Yefim Samsonovich Ryklis.

I didn’t see the hero of the poem at that time, I remembered the story of his feat, but I didn’t write down his last name and therefore forgot. And this journalistic mistake of mine brought me a lot of trouble later.

After the war, the poem was included in the reading circle of fifth grade schoolchildren. And they began to write to me from all over the country, asking about the fate of Lenka, the son of an artilleryman. And I had to answer them that I did not know his fate, but I would like to hope that Lenka, having gone through the whole war to the end, remained alive and well.

And only somewhere already in 1964 from Nikolai Bukin, the “poet of the Rybachy Peninsula”, who during this time had become a colonel from a foreman and published more than one book of poems, I suddenly learned that the “artilleryman’s son” was alive and well and still serving in artillery, but only now not in the Far North, but in the Far East.

And shortly after that, we wrote off and met with "Lenka" - with Lieutenant Colonel of Coastal Artillery Ivan Alekseevich Loskutov.

In the winter of 1966, having received another batch of letters from schoolchildren, I wrote to Ivan Alekseevich in Vladivostok and asked him to help me out - to tell in my own words about my own feat and my future fate. I would like to quote in full the letter that Loskutov sent me in response to my request.

“Dear Konstantin Mikhailovich!

At your request, I am answering the questions that schoolchildren ask you in letters to you about the fate of Lenka Petrov from your poem "The Son of an Artilleryman".

Well, first of all, about the episode that formed the basis of the poem. At the beginning of the war, I served in the North in an artillery regiment, as commander of a topographic reconnaissance platoon, with the rank of lieutenant.

In July 1941, a particularly difficult situation arose on our sector of the front, the Nazis fiercely rushed forward, and therefore the most intense and accurate fire was required from our regiment. It was then that the command of the regiment decided to send a correction point to one of the heights. The fact is that this height during the offensive of the Nazis turned out to be practically in their near rear, and our military outposts, something of the order of 20 people, remained on it. This height was chosen as the place for the correction point.

I was called to the commander of the regiment, Major Ryklis (Major Deev) and the commissar of the regiment Eremin, and I was given the task of reaching this height with a radio station. Having received the task, I went to the front line of our defense with a radio station and two scouts. The infantrymen gave us a guide, and under the cover of fog we went to our destination. It was about three kilometers to go. We walked about a kilometer, as the fog cleared, and the Nazis opened machine-gun and mortar fire on our group. Our guide was wounded and I sent him back. The remaining distance we walked for about three hours, however, we "walked" not that - we mostly crawled, because attempts to stretch to our full height were interrupted by the fire of Hitler's machine guns and mortars. But, anyway, the goal was achieved ...

The review of enemy positions from this height was very good: we perfectly observed the mortar battery, the kitchen, many machine-gun points, and clearly observed all the movements of the enemy. During this day, we spotted all visible targets, determined their coordinates and transmitted all the necessary data by radio to the regiment.

The next day, according to our corrections, the mortar battery was destroyed by the fire of our batteries, a large group of infantry was covered, and several machine-gun points were destroyed.

The Nazis obviously realized (and, perhaps, detected the work of the radio station) that the fire was corrected from this very height, and opened artillery and mortar fire at it. One of the mortar batteries was spotted by us and, on our orders, was suppressed by battery fire. Seeing that the fire attack on the height had no effect and could not stop the accurate fire of our batteries, the Nazis threw a large group of infantry into the offensive on the height. The fire we called on the advancing could not stop them, and the Nazis surrounded the height from all sides, starting to climb directly onto it. We had no choice but to call fire directly on the height. We gave such a command, but the regimental commissar believed that this was a mistake and asked again, and only after our second command did a flurry of our artillery fire hit the height.

The attackers were partially destroyed, and the rest fled. During the shelling, we tried to hide and survived, although the condition was terrible. The radio station was destroyed, and our further stay at the height without communication with the regiment was pointless, and I decided to return to the regiment. But they managed to leave only the next day, when the fog descended, because the slightest movement at a height caused the fire of enemy machine guns. We returned to the regiment, where we were already considered dead ...

That's the whole episode, which served as the basis for the creation of the poem "The Son of the Artilleryman" ...

In 1945, we were relocated to the Far East, where the regiment took part in the war against imperialist Japan. Since 1947 I have been serving in the Red Banner Pacific Fleet.

Here is a short story about myself. I ask you, Konstantin Mikhailovich, to convey warm greetings to your correspondents, wishes for excellent success in their studies, a wish to be worthy of the glory of their fathers and elder brothers, the glory of our great Motherland.

I. A. Loskutov.

Since I received this letter, I have been sending copies of it to all those fifth graders, mostly boys, who ask me about Lyonka's fate.

Konstantin Simonov.

Was with Major Deev

Comrade - Major Petrov,

We were still friends with a civilian,

Ever since the twenties.

Together they chopped whites

Checkers on the run

They later served together

In the artillery regiment.

And Major Petrov

There was Lenka, beloved son,

Without a mother, at the barracks,

The boy grew up alone.

And if Petrov is away, -

It used to be, instead of a father

His friend stayed

For this tomboy.

Will call Deev Lenka:

Well, let's go for a walk:

Son of an artilleryman

It's time to get used to the horse! -

Together with Lenka will go

At a trot, and then into the quarry.

It used to be that Lenka saved,

Can't take the barrier

Falls off and whines.

Of course, still a kid!

Deev picks it up

Like a second father.

Putting him back on the horse:

Learn, brother, to take barriers"

Don't die twice.

Nothing in our life can

Get out of the saddle! -

Such a saying

Major had.

Another two or three years have passed

And carried away

Deeva and Petrova

Military craft.

Deev left for the North

I even forgot the address.

Seeing you would be great!

He didn't like letters.

But that must be why

That he himself did not expect children,

About Lenka with some sadness

He often remembered.

Ten years have passed.

Silence is over

Thunder rumbled

War over the motherland.

Deev fought in the North;

In the polar wilderness

Sometimes in the newspapers

Looking for names of friends.

Once I found Petrov:

“So, alive and well!”

He was praised in the newspaper

Petrov fought in the South.

Then, coming from the South,

Someone told him

That Petrov Nikolai Yegorych

Heroically died in the Crimea.

Deev took out a newspaper,

He asked: "What date?" -

And with sadness I realized that the mail

Been here too long...

And soon in one of the cloudy

northern evenings

Assigned to Deev's regiment

There was Lieutenant Petrov.

Deev sat over the map

With two smoldering candles.

A tall soldier entered

Oblique fathom in the shoulders.

In the first two minutes

The major didn't recognize him.

Only the lieutenant's bass

Reminds me of something.

Well, turn to the light, -

And brought a candle to him.

All the same baby lips

The same snub nose.

And what a mustache - so it is

Shave off! - and the whole conversation.

Lyonka? - That's right, Lenka,

He is the best, comrade major!

So he graduated from high school

Let's serve together.

It's a pity, until such happiness

The father did not have to live. -

Lenka's eyes flashed

An unwelcome tear.

He gritted his teeth silently

Wiped the sleeve of the eye.

And again the major had to

As in childhood, tell him:

Hold on my boy; in the world

Don't die twice.

Nothing in our life can

Get out of the saddle! -

Such a saying

Major had.

And two weeks later

There was a heavy battle in the rocks,

To help everyone out, I must

Someone risk themselves.

Major k yourself called Lenka,

Looked straight at him.

By your command

Appeared, comrade major.

Well, it's good that you came

Leave the documents to me.

You will go alone, without a radio operator,

Radio on the back.

And across the front, over the rocks,

At night in the German rear

Walk along this path

Where no one has gone.

You'll be there on the radio

Fire batteries

It's clear? - That's right, clearly.

Well, then go quickly.

No, wait a little, -

Major stood up for a second

As in childhood, with two hands

Lenka to yourself pressed: -

You go to such a thing

It's hard to come back.

I am the commander of you

I'm not happy to send it there.

But as a father... Answer me:

Am I your father or not?

Father, - Lenka told him

And hugged him back.

So, like a father, once it happened

Fight for life and death

My father's duty and right

Risk your son;

Before others I must

Send your son forward.

Hold on my boy: in the light

Don't die twice.

Nothing in our life can

Get out of the saddle! -

Such a saying

Major had. -

Understood me? - Got it.

May I go? - Go! -

The major remained in the dugout,

The shells were bursting ahead.

Somewhere it rumbled and roared.

The major watched the clock

It would be a hundred times easier for him

If only he walked on his own.

Twelve ... Now, probably,

He went through the posts.

Hour ... Now he got

To the bottom of the height.

Two... He must be now

Crawls to the very ridge.

Three ... Hurry to

The dawn did not catch him.

Deev went out into the air -

How bright the moon shines

Couldn't wait until tomorrow

Damn her!

All night, walking like a pendulum

The Major did not close his eyes.

And finally on the radio

The first signal came:

It's all right, got it.

Germans left me

Coordinates three, ten,

Hurry, let's fire!

The guns were loaded

The major calculated everything himself,

And with a roar the first volleys

They hit the mountains.

And again the signal on the radio:

Germans right me

Coordinates five, ten,

More like fire!

Earth and rocks flew

A column of smoke rose

It seemed that now from there

Nobody gets out alive.

The third signal on the radio:

Germans around me

Hit four, ten

Spare no fire!

The Major turned pale when he heard:

Four, ten - just right

The place where his Lyonka

Must sit now.

But without showing it,

Forgetting that he was a father,

Major continued to command

With a calm face

"Fire!" - shells were flying.

"Fire!" - load quickly!

Square four, ten

There were six batteries.

The radio was silent for an hour

Then came the signal:

Silent: deafened by the explosion.

Hit like I said.

I believe my shells

They can't touch me.

The Germans are running, click,

Give me a sea of fire! -

And at the command post

Having received the last signal,

Major in deaf radio

Unable to bear it, he shouted:

You hear me, I believe

Death will not take such

Hold on my boy: in the light

Don't die twice.

Nothing in our life can

Get out of the saddle! -

Such a saying

Major had.

The infantry went on the attack -

Was clear by noon.

From the fleeing Germans

Rocky height.

There were corpses everywhere

Wounded but alive

Was found in the Lenka Gorge

With a tied head.

When the bandage was unwound,

What hastily he tied up,

The major looked at Lenka

And suddenly he did not recognize him:

He was like the old one

Calm and young

All the same eyes of a boy

But only ... completely gray-haired.

He hugged the major before

How to go to the hospital:

Hold on, father: in the world

Don't die twice.

Nothing in our life can

Get out of the saddle! -

Such a saying

Now Lenka had...

Here's the story

About these glorious deeds

On the Middle Peninsula

Was told to me.

And above, above the mountains,

The moon was still floating

Explosions rumbled close

The war continued.

The telephone crackled; worrying

Major in the dugout go

And someone else, like Lenka,

He walked through the snow to the rear of the Germans.

And Major Petrov
There was Lenka, beloved son,
Without a mother, at the barracks,
The boy grew up alone.
And if Petrov is away, -
It used to be, instead of a father
His friend stayed
For this tomboy.

Deev will raise him
Like a second father.
Putting him back on the horse:
- Learn, brother, to take barriers!
Don't die twice.
Nothing in our life can
Kick out of the saddle!-
Such a saying
Major had.

Ten years have passed.
Silence is over
Thunder rumbled
Over the homeland war.
Deev fought in the North;
In the polar wilderness
Sometimes in the newspapers
Looking for names of friends.
Once I found Petrov:
“So, alive and well!”
He was praised in the newspaper
Petrov fought in the South.
Then, coming from the South,
Someone told him
That Petrov, Nikolai Yegorych,
Heroically died in the Crimea.
Deev took out a newspaper,
He asked: "What date?"
And with sadness I realized that the mail
Been here too long...

So he graduated from high school
Let's serve together.
It's a pity, until such happiness
Father did not have to live.-
Lenka's eyes flashed
An unwelcome tear.
He gritted his teeth silently
Wiped the sleeve of the eye.
And again the major had to
As in childhood, tell him:
- Hold on, my boy: in the world
Don't die twice.
Nothing in our life can
Kick out of the saddle!-
Such a saying
Major had.

Earth and rocks flew
A column of smoke rose
It seemed that now from there
Nobody gets out alive.
The third signal on the radio:
- Germans around me,
Hit four, ten
Spare no fire!

He hugged the major before
How to go to the hospital:
- Hold on, father: in the world
Don't die twice.
Nothing in our life can
Kick out of the saddle!-
Such a saying
Now Lenka had ...

Analysis of the poem "The son of an artilleryman" Simonov

The poem "The son of an artilleryman" (1941) was written by Simonov on a special assignment from the command, in order to raise the morale of the soldiers. But sincere by nature, it was unusual for a poet to write under someone's dictation, even in the name of a noble goal. Therefore, he based the plot on a real story heard from one officer.

The poem describes the long-standing friendship of two Soviet officers (Deev and Petrov), who fought side by side during the Civil War. Petrov had the only son Lenka, who grew up without a mother. The friendship of the officers was so strong that Lenka considered Deev his second father. He spent a lot of time with him and in difficult situations repeated his favorite saying: “Nothing in life can knock us out of the saddle!” Deev loved Lenka very much also because he himself did not have time to have children.

Years separated true friends, but in moments of loneliness Deev's most vivid memory was the son of his best friend. During the outbreak of the war, Deev accidentally found out about Petrov and was glad that he was at the front and defended his homeland with honor. But news of his death soon followed.

After some time, a young lieutenant Petrov arrived at Deev's disposal, in which the officer did not immediately recognize the son of an old friend. He joyfully greets Lyonka and repeats his unchanging saying.

The climax of the poem is an episode in which one person had to risk his life to save the rest. Deev sends Lenka on a mission. This behavior seems strange. Many would try to take advantage of their position and save a loved one from danger. Simonov, on the other hand, emphasizes that in the face of mortal danger, the officer is ready to sacrifice even his named son. In addition, Lenka was a person whom Deev trusted and could rely on him. The parting scene is very touching, when the same saying becomes parting word.

Deev, having sent Lenka, does not find peace. He mentally imagines the path and all the actions of the lieutenant. Lyonka safely reaches the target and begins directing artillery fire. His sudden call of fire on himself makes Deev turn pale. But he breaks his fatherly feelings and gives the order to strike. Lenka and Deev believe that Soviet shells will not be able to harm their soldier. The hero remains alive and, already as a person who has matured in one day, pronounces a legendary saying in front of Deev.

At the end of the poem, Simonov imagines a general picture of the front and all those people who, with daily exploits, repeat the fate of the heroes of the work.

The poem may seem too pretentious. But do not forget about the difficult conditions in which it was created. During the Great Patriotic War, calling fire on oneself was a common occurrence. People neglected their own lives for the sake of a common victory, and family ties did not matter at all.

Simonov Konstantin

Gunner's son

Konstantin Simonov

Gunner's son

Major Deev had a comrade - Major Petrov, We were friends with the civilian, Ever since the twenties, Together they chopped the whites with checkers at a gallop, Together then they served In the artillery regiment.

And Major Petrov had Lyonka, his beloved son, Without a mother, at the barracks, The boy grew up alone. And if Petrov was away, it happened that instead of his father, his friend remained for this tomboy.

Deev will call Lenka: - Well, let's go for a walk: It's time for the gunner's son to get used to the horse! Together with Lenka, he will go to the lynx, and then to the quarry. It used to be that Lenka would save, He would not be able to take the barrier, He would fall down and whimper.

Of course, still a kid! Deev will raise him, Like a second father.

He will put him back on the horse: - Learn, brother, to take barriers! Hold on, my boy: do not die twice in the world.

Two or three more goals passed, And Deev and Petrov were swept aside by military craft.

Deev left for the North And even forgot the address. Seeing you would be great! He didn't like letters.

But because, it must be, That he himself was not expecting children, About Lenka with some sadness He often remembered.

Ten years have passed. The silence ended, the war rumbled like thunder over the Motherland.

Deev fought in the North; In its polar wilderness Sometimes I searched the newspapers for the names of my friends.

Once I found Petrov: "So, alive and well!" He was praised in the newspaper, Petrov fought in the South.

Then, having arrived from the South, Someone told him that Petrov, Nikolai Yegorych, died heroically in the Crimea.

Deev took out a newspaper, He asked: "What date?" And with sadness I realized that the mail had been coming here for too long ...

And soon, on one of the cloudy Northern evenings, Lieutenant Petrov was appointed to Deev's regiment.

Deev was sitting over the map By two smoky candles. A tall military man entered, with a slanting sazhen in his shoulders.

In the first two minutes Major did not recognize him. Only the lieutenant's bass reminded me of something.

Well, turn to the light, And bring a candle to it. All the same children's lips, The same snub nose.

And what a mustache - so it's a shave! - and the whole conversation. - Lenka? - That's right, Lenka, He is the most, comrade major!

So, he graduated from school, We will serve together. It is a pity that the Father did not have to live to such happiness.

Lenka had an unbidden tear in his eyes. Gritting his teeth, he silently wiped his eyes with his sleeve.

And again the major, As in childhood, had to say to him: - Hold on, my boy: in the world you won't die twice.

Nothing in life can knock us out of the saddle! Such a saying The major had.

And two weeks later There was a heavy battle in the rocks, To save everyone, Someone is obliged to risk himself.

The major summoned Lenka to himself, looked at him point-blank. - By your order Appeared, comrade major.

Well, it's good that you showed up. Leave the documents to me. You will go alone, without a radio operator, Walkie-talkie on your back.

And through the front, over the rocks, At night to the German rear You will walk along such a path Where no one has walked.

You will be from there on the radio to fire batteries. It's clear? - That's right, clearly. - Well, go quickly.

No, wait a bit. The major stood up for a second, As in childhood, he pressed Lenka to himself with both hands.

You go to such a thing that it's hard to come back. As a commander, I'm not happy to send you there.

But as a father... Answer me: Am I your father or not? - Father, - Lenka told him And hugged him back.

So, as a father, once it happened To fight for life and death, My father's duty and the right to risk his Son.

Before others, I must send the Son forward. Hold on, my boy: do not die twice in the world.

Nothing in life can knock us out of the saddle! Such a saying The major had.

Understood me? - Got it. May I go? - Go! The major remained in the dugout, Shells burst ahead.

Somewhere it rumbled and roared. The Major watched the clock. It would be a hundred times easier for him if he walked himself.

Twelve ... Now, probably, He went through the posts. An hour... Now he has reached the foot of the height.

Two... He must now be Crawling to the very ridge. Three ... Hurry, so that the dawn does not catch Him.

Deev went out into the air How brightly the moon shines, Couldn't wait until tomorrow, Cursed be she!

All night, striding like a pendulum, The major did not close his eyes, Until the first signal came on the radio in the morning:

It's all right, got it. The Germans left me, Coordinates three, ten, Hurry, let's fire!

The guns were loaded, the Major calculated everything himself, And with a roar the first volleys Hit the mountains.

And again the signal on the radio: - The Germans right me, Coordinates five, ten, Rather, more fire!

Earth and rocks flew, Smoke rose like a column, It seemed that now no one would leave alive from there.

The third signal on the radio: - The Germans are around me, Beat four, ten, Do not spare the fire!

The major turned pale when he heard: Four, ten - just the place where his Lenka should sit now.

But, without showing any sign, Forgetting that he was a father, the Major continued to command With a calm face:

"Fire!" - shells were flying. "Fire!" - load quickly! Square four, ten Beat six batteries.

The radio was silent for an hour, Then a signal came: - Silent: deafened by the explosion, Beat, as I said.

I believe my shells can't touch me. The Germans are running, click, Give me a sea of fire!

And at the command post, Having received the last signal, the Major, in a deafened radio, Unable to stand it, shouted:

You hear me, I believe, Death does not take such. Hold on, my boy: do not die twice in the world.

Nothing in life can knock us out of the saddle! Such a saying The major had.

The infantry went on the attack. By noon, the Rocky Height was clear of the fleeing Germans.

There were corpses everywhere, Wounded, but alive Was found in the Lenka gorge With a bandaged head.

When the bandage was unwound, That he had hastily tied it up, the Major looked at Lenka And suddenly he did not recognize him.

It was as if he was the same, Calm and young, All the same eyes of a boy, But only ... completely gray-haired.

He hugged the major before leaving for the hospital: - Hold on, father: don't die twice in the world.

Nothing in life can knock us out of the saddle! Such a saying Now Lenka had ...

Here is a story About these glorious deeds On the Middle Peninsula Was told to me.

And above, above the mountains, The moon still floated, Explosions rumbled close, The war continued.

The telephone crackled, and, worrying, the Commander walked along the dugout, And someone, just like Lyonka, Went to the Germans today in the rear.

And Major Petrov
There was Lenka, beloved son,
Without a mother, at the barracks,
The boy grew up alone.
And if Petrov is away, -
It used to be, instead of a father
His friend stayed
For this tomboy.

Will call Deev Lenka:
- Well, let's go for a walk:
Son of an artilleryman
It's time to get used to the horse! -
Together with Lenka will go
At a trot, and then into the quarry.
It used to be that Lenka saved,
Can't take the barrier
Falls off and whines.

Of course, still a kid! -
Deev will raise him
Like a second father.
Putting him back on the horse:
- Learn, brother, to take barriers!

Don't die twice.

Nothing in our life can
Get out of the saddle! -
Such a saying
Major had.

Another two or three years have passed
And carried away
Deeva and Petrova
Military craft.

Deev left for the North
I even forgot the address.
Seeing you would be great!
He didn't like letters.

But that must be why
That he himself did not expect children,
About Lenka with some sadness
He often remembered.

Ten years have passed.
Silence is over
Thunder rumbled
War over the motherland.

Deev fought in the North;
In the polar wilderness
Sometimes in the newspapers
Looking for names of friends.

Once I found Petrov:
"So, alive and well!"
He was praised in the newspaper
Petrov fought in the South.

Then, coming from the South,
Someone told him
That Petrov, Nikolai Yegorych,
Heroically died in the Crimea.

Deev took out a newspaper,
He asked: "What date?" -
And with sadness I realized that the mail
Been here too long...

And soon in one of the cloudy
northern evenings
Assigned to Deev's regiment
There was Lieutenant Petrov.

Deev sat over the map
With two smoldering candles.
A tall soldier entered
Oblique fathom in the shoulders.

In the first two minutes
The major did not recognize him.
Only the lieutenant's bass
Reminds me of something.

Well, turn to the light, -
And brought a candle to him.
All the same baby lips
The same snub nose.

And what a mustache - so it is
Shave off! - and the whole conversation.
- Lenka? - That's right, Lenka,
He is the best, comrade major!

So he graduated from high school
Let's serve together.
It's a pity, until such happiness
The father did not have to live.

Lenka's eyes flashed
An unwelcome tear.
He gritted his teeth silently
Wiped the sleeve of the eye.

And again the major had to
As in childhood, tell him:
- Hold on, my boy: in the world
Don't die twice.

Nothing in our life can
Get out of the saddle! -
Such a saying
Major had.

And two weeks later
There was a heavy battle in the rocks,
To help everyone out, I must
Someone risk themselves.

The major summoned Lenka to himself,
Looked straight at him.
- By your command
Appeared, comrade major.

Well, it's good that you showed up.
Leave the documents to me.
You will go alone, without a radio operator,
Radio on the back.

And across the front, over the rocks,
At night in the German rear
Walk along this path
Where no one has gone.

You'll be there on the radio
Fire batteries.
It's clear? - That's right, clearly.
- Well, go quickly.

No, wait a little. -
Major stood up for a second
As in childhood, with two hands
He pressed Lenka to himself.

You go to such a thing
It's hard to come back.
As a commander, I
I'm not happy to send it there.

But as a father... Answer me:
Am I your father or not?
- Father, - Lenka told him
And hugged him back.

So, like a father, once it happened
Fight for life and death
My father's duty and right
Risk your son.

Before others I must
Send your son forward.
Hold on my boy: in the light
Don't die twice.

Nothing in our life can
Get out of the saddle! -
Such a saying
Major had.

Understood me? - Got it.
May I go? - Go! -
The major remained in the dugout,
The shells were bursting ahead.

Somewhere it rumbled and roared.
The Major watched the clock.
It would be a hundred times easier for him
If only he walked on his own.

Twelve ... Now, probably,
He went through the posts.
Hour ... Now he got
To the bottom of the height.

Two... He must be now
Crawls to the very ridge.
Three ... Hurry to
The dawn did not catch him.

Deev went out into the air -
How bright the moon shines
Couldn't wait until tomorrow
Damn her!

All night, walking like a pendulum
Major did not close his eyes,
While on the radio in the morning
The first signal came:

It's all right, got it.
Germans left me
Coordinates three, ten,
Hurry, let's fire!

The guns were loaded
The major calculated everything himself,
And with a roar the first volleys
They hit the mountains.

And again the signal on the radio:
- Germans right me,
Coordinates five, ten,
More like fire!

Earth and rocks flew
A column of smoke rose
It seemed that now from there
Nobody gets out alive.

The third signal on the radio:
- Germans around me,
Hit four, ten
Spare no fire!

The Major turned pale when he heard:
Four, ten - just right
The place where his Lyonka
Must sit now.

But without showing it,
Forgetting that he was a father,
Major continued to command
With a calm face

"Fire!" - shells were flying.
"Fire!" - load quickly!
Square four, ten
There were six batteries.

The radio was silent for an hour
Then came the signal:
- He was silent: deafened by the explosion.
Hit like I said.

I believe my shells
They can't touch me.
The Germans are running, click,
Give me a sea of fire!

And at the command post
Having received the last signal,
Major in deaf radio
Unable to bear it, he shouted:

You hear me, I believe
Do not take such death.
Hold on my boy: in the light
Don't die twice.

No one in our life can
Get out of the saddle! -
Such a saying
Major had.

The infantry went on the attack -
Was clear by noon.
From the fleeing Germans
Rocky height.

There were corpses everywhere
Wounded but alive
Was found in the Lenka Gorge
With a tied head.

When the bandage was unwound,
What hastily he tied up,
The major looked at Lenka
And suddenly he did not recognize him:

He was like the old one
Calm and young
All the same eyes of a boy
But only ... completely gray-haired.

He hugged the major before
How to go to the hospital:
- Hold on, father: in the world
Don't die twice.

Nothing in our life can
Get out of the saddle! -
Such a saying
Now Lenka had...

Here's the story
About these glorious deeds
On the Middle Peninsula
Was told to me.

And above, above the mountains,
The moon was still floating
Explosions were close,
The war continued.

The phone crackled, and, worrying,
The commander walked along the dugout,
And someone just like Lenka,
Went to the Germans today in the rear.

In October 1941, the poet and war correspondent Konstantin Simonov was sent to the Murmansk region, to the Northern Front, where, near the Arctic Ocean, Soviet units held the borders of our Motherland in heavy battles. The 104th artillery regiment defended the Sredny and Rybachy peninsulas from the Nazis. Regiment commander Efim Ryklis told Simonov a story that later formed the basis of the poem "The Artilleryman's Son". In the summer of 1941, the Germans began a fierce shelling of Soviet positions from guns hidden behind rocks. Major Ryklis sent to the rear of the enemy the son of his close friend - the commander of a topographic reconnaissance platoon, Lieutenant Ivan Loskutov, with two radio operators. For six days, the fighters corrected the fire of our artillery batteries by radio. When the Germans discovered and surrounded the gunners, they called the fire of their own artillery on themselves. Loskutov and radio operators were able to survive, the enemies were defeated.