--- title: "A Pack of Orders · Пачка ордеров" author: "Alexei Gastev" translator: "S. Alexander Laurent" title_ru: "Пачка ордеров" author_ru: "Алексей Гастев" languages: [ru, en] shelf: "LCI editions" url: https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/ cite: "Alexei Gastev, tr. S. Alexander Laurent, A Pack of Orders · Пачка ордеров. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/" --- # A Pack of Orders · Пачка ордеров *Alexei Gastev, tr. S. Alexander Laurent* Russian: Пачка ордеров, Алексей Гастев “Forty thousand in a rank. Attention: eyes on the pressure gauge.” Gastev’s 1921 poem in ten orders, to be read at one speed, like instructions fed to a machine. In Russian and English. > Russian: А. Гастев, Пачка ордеров (Riga, 1921). > English: Laurentium Cultural Industries, project translation (8 October 2026). ## Contents 1. [Preface](https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/1.md) 2. [Technical Instruction](https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/2.md) 3. [Order 01](https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/3.md) 4. [Order 02](https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/4.md) 5. [Order 03](https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/5.md) 6. [Order 04](https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/6.md) 7. [Order 05](https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/7.md) 8. [Order 06](https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/8.md) 9. [Order 07](https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/9.md) 10. [Order 08](https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/10.md) 11. [Order 09](https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/11.md) 12. [Order 10](https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/12.md) ## 1. Preface Source: https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/1/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/1/#p-N [¶0] Years race by in the taut fantasy of battles and depressions. The whole world, from New York to the Tungus, lives in risky action, in the vibration of expectations. Wars, upheavals, technical design: everything is mixed together in humanity’s panicked, stern-joyful and winged bivouac. > Russian: Несутся годы в напряженной фантастике битв и депрессий. Весь мир – от Нью-Йорка до тунгуза – живет в рискованном действии, в вибрации ожиданий. Войны, перевороты, технический замысел, все смешано в паническом, суроворадостном и окрыленном людском биваке. [¶1] Humanity is on the alert. It awaits the whistle. A moment, and through the dim chaos of these days a solemn-legendary surmise will burst forth of the coming roar of events. > Russian: Человечество насторожилось. Оно ждет гудка. Мгновение, – и сквозь смутный хаос этих дней вырвется торжественно-легендарная догадка о грядущем реве событий. ## 2. Technical Instruction Source: https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/2/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/2/#p-N [¶0] “Pack of Orders” is read in even segments, as if being fed to an apparatus. > Russian: «Пачка ордеров» читается ровными отрезками, как бы сдаваемыми на аппарат. [¶1] The reading must contain no expression, pathos, false-classical elevation or emphatic passages of high emotion. > Russian: В читке не должно быть экспрессии, пафоса, ложно-классической приподнятости и ударных патетических мест. [¶2] Words and phrases follow one another at a single speed. > Russian: Слова и фразы следуют друг за другом одной скоростью. [¶3] A heavy action is in progress, and the “pack” is given to the listener as a libretto for material events. > Russian: Идет грузное действие, и «пачка» дается слушателю как либретто вещевых событий. [¶4] Order 05 may be read by a simultaneous reader; the phrases are delivered with long pauses, calculated to span the time of Orders 01–09. Order 10 is read at the end by the first reader alone. > Russian: Ордер 05 может читаться параллельным чтецом; фразы подаются с большими паузами, с расчетом покрытия времени ордеров 01–09. Ордер 10 прочитывается в заключение одним первым чтецом. ## 3. Order 01 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/3/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/3/#p-N [¶0] ORDER 01 > Russian: ОРДЕР 01 [¶1] Forty thousand in a rank. > Russian: Сорок тысяч в шеренгу. [¶2] Attention: eyes on the pressure gauge – solder them in. > Russian: Смирно: глаза на манометр – впаять. [¶3] Cast-iron-strip-gazes. > Russian: Чугуно-полоса-взгляды. [¶4] Line check – a volley. > Russian: Проверка линии – залп. [¶5] A shot along the line. > Russian: Выстрел вдоль линии. [¶6] Shellflight – ten millimetres from the foreheads. > Russian: Снарядополет – десять миллиметров от лбов. [¶7] Thirty foreheads licked off – people to scrap. > Russian: Тридцать лбов слизано, – люди в брак. [¶8] Thousand A – eastward. > Russian: Тысяча А – к востоку. [¶9] Column 10 – westward. > Russian: Колонна 10 – на запад. [¶10] Twenty-nine thousand – freeze. > Russian: Двадцать девять тысяч, – замри. ## 4. Order 02 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/4/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/4/#p-N [¶0] ORDER 02 > Russian: ОРДЕР 02 [¶1] Chronometer, on duty. > Russian: Хронометр, на дежурство. [¶2] To the machine tools. > Russian: К станкам. [¶3] Stand up. > Russian: Встать. [¶4] Pause. > Russian: Пауза. [¶5] A charge of attention. > Russian: Заряд внимания. [¶6] Feed. > Russian: Подача. [¶7] Switch on. > Russian: Включить. [¶8] Self-motion. > Russian: Самоход. [¶9] Stop. > Russian: Стоп. [¶10] Half a minute’s hold. > Russian: Полминуты выдержки. [¶11] Switch over. > Russian: Переключить. [¶12] Operation B. > Russian: Операция Б. [¶13] Move two, move four. > Russian: Прием два, прием четыре. [¶14] Seven. > Russian: Семь. [¶15] Series twenty, into work. > Russian: Серия двадцать, в работу. ## 5. Order 03 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/5/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/5/#p-N [¶0] ORDER 03 > Russian: ОРДЕР 03 [¶1] Doctors, to the ranks. > Russian: Врачи, к шеренгам. [¶2] Raise the temperature. > Russian: Поднять температуру. [¶3] Raise it by nine tenths of a degree. > Russian: Повысить на девять десятых градуса. [¶4] For the first ten. > Russian: Первому десятку. [¶5] Short pause. > Russian: Малая пауза. [¶6] Raise it for Hundred D. > Russian: Повысить сотне Д. [¶7] Long pause. > Russian: Большая пауза. [¶8] For Thousand E. > Russian: Тысяче Е. [¶9] To the machine tools, trowels, microscopes. > Russian: К станкам, лопаткам, микроскопам. [¶10] Raise it further. > Russian: Повысить еще. [¶11] By five tenths. > Russian: На пять десятых. [¶12] For Million S. > Russian: Миллиону С. [¶13] For thirty cities. > Russian: Тридцати городам. [¶14] For twenty states. > Russian: Двадцати государствам. [¶15] Agit-cannonade. > Russian: Агитканонада. [¶16] Labour-attacks-extra. > Russian: Трудо-атаки-экстра. ## 6. Order 04 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/6/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/6/#p-N [¶0] ORDER 04 > Russian: ОРДЕР 04 [¶1] Prisms of houses. > Russian: Призмы домов. [¶2] A pack of twenty city blocks. > Russian: Пачка в двадцать кварталов. [¶3] Into the press with it. > Russian: В пресс ее. [¶4] Flatten into a parallelogram. > Russian: Сплющить в параллелограмм. [¶5] Clamp down to 30 degrees. > Russian: Зажать до 30 градусов. [¶6] Onto worm gears and wheels. > Russian: На червяки и колеса. [¶7] City-block-tank. > Russian: Квартало-танк. [¶8] Diagonal motion. > Russian: Движение диагональю. [¶9] Cut through streets without shuddering. > Russian: Резать улицы не содрогаясь. [¶10] An extra thousand calories for the workers. > Russian: Лишняя тысяча калорий работникам. ## 7. Order 05 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/7/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/7/#p-N [¶0] ORDER 05 > Russian: ОРДЕР 05 [¶1] A requiem in the graveyard of planets. > Russian: Панихида на кладбище планет. [¶2] A roar in the catacombs of worlds. > Russian: Рев в катакомбах миров. [¶3] Millions, into the hatches of the future. > Russian: Миллионы, в люки будущего. [¶4] Billions, grip the implements tighter. > Russian: Миллиарды, крепче орудия. [¶5] Penal labour of the mind. > Russian: Каторга ума. [¶6] Shackles of the heart. > Russian: Кандалы сердца. [¶7] Engineer the philistines. > Russian: Инженерьте обывателей. [¶8] Drive geometry into their necks. > Russian: Загнать им геометрию в шею. [¶9] Logarithms into their gestures. > Russian: Логарифмы им в жесты. [¶10] Foul their romanticism. > Russian: Опакостить их романтику. [¶11] Tonnes of indignation. > Russian: Тонны негодования. [¶12] Standardisation of the word from pole to pole. > Russian: Нормализация слова от полюса к полюсу. [¶13] Phrases on the decimal system. > Russian: Фразы по десятеричной системе. [¶14] Boilerworks of speeches. > Russian: Котельное предприятие речей. [¶15] Abolish literature. > Russian: Уничтожить словесность. [¶16] Throat the tunnels. > Russian: Огортанить туннели. [¶17] Make them speak. > Russian: Заставить говорить их. [¶18] The sky – into red for excitation. > Russian: Небо – в красное для возбуждения. [¶19] Gears – overspeed. > Russian: Шестерни – сверхскорость. [¶20] Brainmachines – loading. > Russian: Мозгомашины – погрузка. [¶21] Cine-eyes – installation. > Russian: Киноглаза – установка. [¶22] Electro-nerves – work. > Russian: Электронервы – работа. [¶23] Arterio-pumps, pump. > Russian: Артерионасосы, качайте. ## 8. Order 06 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/8/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/8/#p-N [¶0] ORDER 06 > Russian: ОРДЕР 06 [¶1] Asia – all on the note D. > Russian: Азия – вся на ноте ре. [¶2] America – a chord higher. > Russian: Америка – аккордом выше. [¶3] Africa – B-flat. > Russian: Африка – си-бемоль. [¶4] Radio-bandmaster. > Russian: Радиокапельмейстер. [¶5] Cyclonecello – solo. > Russian: Циклоновиолончель – соло. [¶6] Across forty towers – with the bow. > Russian: По сорока башням – смычком. [¶7] An orchestra along the equator. > Russian: Оркестр по экватору. [¶8] Symphonies along parallel 7. > Russian: Симфонии по параллели 7. [¶9] Choirs along meridian 6. > Russian: Хоры по меридиану 6. [¶10] Electrostrings to the earth’s centre. > Russian: Электроструны к земному центру. [¶11] Hold the globe in music for four seasons. > Russian: Продержать шар земли в музыке четыре времени года. [¶12] Sound along the orbit for 4 months pianissimo. > Russian: Звучать по орбите 4 месяца пианиссимо. [¶13] Make four minutes of volcano-fortissimo. > Russian: Сделать четыре минуты вулкано-фортиссимо. [¶14] Break off for a week. > Russian: Оборвать на неделю. [¶15] Thunder out volcano-fortissimo-crescendo: > Russian: Грянуть вулкано-фортиссимо-кресчендо: [¶16] Hold at volcano for half a year. > Russian: Держать на вулкано полгода. [¶17] Bring down to zero. > Russian: Спускать до нуля. [¶18] Fold up the orchestrade. > Russian: Свернуть оркестраду. ## 9. Order 07 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/9/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/9/#p-N [¶0] ORDER 07 > Russian: ОРДЕР 07 [¶1] Distribution bureau on Mont Blanc. > Russian: Распределительное бюро на Монблане. [¶2] Washington switchboard, command America. > Russian: Коммутатор Вашингтон, командуй Америкой. [¶3] Radio Calcutta – the eastern continent. > Russian: Радио Калькутта – материком восточным. [¶4] The shift of telegraphists: sleep for 2 hours. > Russian: Заснуть смене телеграфистов на 2 часа. [¶5] Wake the telephone girls for 5 hours. > Russian: Разбудить телефонных девиц на 5 часов. [¶6] Raise the aeroplatforms by 10,000 kilometres. > Russian: Поднять авиаплатформы на 10 000 километров. [¶7] Repair 20 million of the legless. > Russian: Отремонтировать 20 миллионов безногих. [¶8] Horse-ify the inhabitants of Australia. > Russian: Олошадить жителей Австралии. [¶9] Rejuvenate the Canadians by 30 years. > Russian: Омолодить на 30 лет канадцев. [¶10] Report received in three minutes from half a billion athletes. > Russian: Принят рапорт в три минуты от полмиллиарда спортсменов. [¶11] Compile a summary of the reports by telemachines in 10 minutes. > Russian: Сделать сводку рапортов телемашинами в 10 минут. [¶12] Switch off the sun for half an hour. > Russian: Выключить солнце на полчаса. [¶13] Write 20 kilometres of words on the night sky. > Russian: Написать на ночном небе 20 километров слов. [¶14] Divide consciousness into 30 parallels. > Russian: Разложить сознание на 30 параллелей. [¶15] Make them read 20 kilometres in 5 minutes. > Russian: Заставить прочесть 20 километров в 5 минут. [¶16] Switch on the sun. > Russian: Включить солнце. [¶17] All those overheated – mark time. > Russian: Всем разгоряченным – шаг на месте. [¶18] Command a high jump. > Russian: Скомандовать прыжок в вышину. [¶19] Select the springiest. > Russian: Выбрать самых пружинных. [¶20] Humanity – tubes to ears and throat. > Russian: Человечество – трубки к ушам и гортани. [¶21] Listen to the athletes, there is poetry in their bodies. > Russian: Слушайте спортсменов, в их теле поэзия. ## 10. Order 08 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/10/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/10/#p-N [¶0] ORDER 08 > Russian: ОРДЕР 08 [¶1] Fire off an area of black. > Russian: Выстрелить площадь черного. [¶2] Hurl cubes of yellow to the electric cranes. > Russian: Кубы желтого швырнуть электрокранам. [¶3] Scatter events over planes and cubes. > Russian: На плоскости и кубы разбросать события. [¶4] Set in circular motion. > Russian: Дать круговое движение. [¶5] Intersect it all along the axis. > Russian: Пересечь всё по оси. [¶6] Twenty centuries into a staircase. > Russian: Двадцать веков в лестницу. [¶7] Hurl the staircase into the planes. > Russian: Лестницу ринуть в плоскости. [¶8] Set rotating. > Russian: Дать вращение. [¶9] Speed – a million centuries a minute. > Russian: Скорость – миллион веков минута. [¶10] Compress. > Russian: Спрессовать. [¶11] Provide a point of condensation. > Russian: Дать точку конденсации. [¶12] Attention pause. > Russian: Пауза внимания. [¶13] Inject all this by syringe into human trunk-lines. > Russian: Ввести все это шприцами людским магистралям. [¶14] Raise blizzards on the molecules. > Russian: Поднять бураны на молекулах. [¶15] Introduce all this into microatoms. > Russian: Ввести все это в микроатомы. [¶16] March of the trunk-lines from pole to equator. > Russian: Марш магистралей с полюса на экватор. [¶17] Countermarch: from equator to pole. > Russian: Встречный марш: с экватора на полюс. ## 11. Order 09 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/11/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/11/#p-N [¶0] ORDER 09 > Russian: ОРДЕР 09 [¶1] Open the battle. > Russian: Открыть битву. [¶2] With hands, with chest. > Russian: Руками, грудью. [¶3] Cancel that. > Russian: Отставить. [¶4] Battle by hypnosis. > Russian: Битва гипнозом. [¶5] Manoeuvre back. > Russian: Маневр назад. [¶6] Mobilise four trunk-lines at a time. > Russian: Мобилизовать по четыре магистрали. [¶7] Battle of syllogisms. > Russian: Битва силлогизмов. [¶8] Readings by pressure gauge. > Russian: Показания манометром. [¶9] Burn with Y-rays. > Russian: Жечь игрек-лучами. [¶10] Intensely oxygenate the rear. > Russian: Усиленно кислородить тылы. [¶11] Nitrogenate the opponents. > Russian: Азотировать противников. [¶12] Wash the brains. > Russian: Промыть мозги. [¶13] Pause. > Russian: Пауза. [¶14] Disrupt orientation in space. > Russian: Сбить ориентировку в пространстве. [¶15] Switch on the sense of time. > Russian: Включить чувство времени. [¶16] Drop darkness on the crowds. > Russian: Уронить на толпы мрак. [¶17] A dam of people under a dam of people. > Russian: Плотина людей под плотину людей. [¶18] Mad women, give birth. > Russian: Сумасшедшие женщины, рожайте. [¶19] Give birth immediately, urgently. > Russian: Рожайте немедленно, срочно. ## 12. Order 10 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/12/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/gastev-pack-of-orders/12/#p-N [¶0] ORDER 10 > Russian: ОРДЕР 10 [¶1] Report: six hundred cities – endurance under test. > Russian: Отрапортовать: шестьсот городов – выдержка пробы. [¶2] Twenty cities suffocated – to scrap. > Russian: Двадцать городов задохлись, – в брак.