Hey, listen you all, o-ho-ho, hey-hey-hey - What Parrot, the pirate, is going to say! Some centuries back I was born and I grew Where trees with lianas are cloaked. My parents were parrots by name Cockatoo, Unlike me, no language they spoke. But we had to leave our rain forest nest ‘Cause then we were captured by awful Cortes, He started to yell at my daddy, like mad, And nothing to him in response daddy said - Unable to speak was my dad! I thought of revenge and a goal I set - “I must learn to speak and I’ll do it, I bet!” - Three phrases I drilled (and succeeded in that!): “Car-r-r-amba!”, “Cor-r-r-ida!” and “Gr-r-r-isly old rat!” Hey, listen you all, o-ho-ho, hey-hey-hey - What Parrot, the pirate, is going to say! Amid the Atlantic a tempest we met, I hardly survived that commotion. Then some British ship which was called “a corvette”, Attacked us in that ruthless ocean. The battle was long and as tough as could be, And these wicked pirates got hold of me... That’s how I started my voyages and trips Around the world on the outlaws’ ships, On numerous outlaws’ ships! They gave me bananas and oranges too, They taught me to say: “Buddies, how do you do?” But I would repeat as an obstinate brat: “Car-r-r-amba!” “Cor-r-r-ida!” and “Gr-r-r-isly old rat!” Hey, listen you all, o-ho-ho, hey-hey-hey - What Parrot, the pirate, is going to say! Three years I sailed with the pirates and - bang! - One seaman who drank too much liquor, Just sold myself into slavery then, Though I was already a speaker! The Pasha of Turkey jumped up to the sky When I greeted him with: ”Salam, Pasha, hi!” This Pasha could not sleep a minute at night When he came to learn that I also write And count and read and recite! I visited India, Congo, Nepal... I’m an individual - With gumption and all! And only idiots think I’m a pet - “Car-r-r-amba!”, “Cor-r-r-ida!” and “Gr-r-r-isly old rat!”
© George Tokarev. Translation, 2001
Edited by Robert Titterton