Once in Chad or Cameroon Where the sun is scorching, Painting grass and rocks maroon - There happened a misfortune. Said old Lion: "Flood I smell, For the best let’s hope!" All because Giraffe once fell In love with Antelope! Beasts began to neigh and bray, But smart Parrot, old and gray, Stated wisely from his nest: "Giraffe is big! He knows best!" "Horns of hers deserve no scorn!" - That Giraffe would shout. "Equal we are now born, Fathers’ norms are out! If my herd speak ill of her, Snub her for no reason - Then I’ll leave this foul herd, And don’t call it treason!" Beasts began to neigh and bray, But smart Parrot, old and gray, Stated wisely from his nest: "Giraffe is big! He knows best!" Antelope’s Dad resents His prospective sonny: "What his muzzle represents Is comical and funny! No assent will he receive From me, a spotted dope!" Thus, to zebras went to live Giraffe with Antelope! Beasts began to neigh and bray, But smart Parrot, old and gray, Stated wisely from his nest: "Giraffe is big! He knows best!" Now in Cameroon or Chad There’s no quiet, nope! Crying hard, they feel so sad, Giraffe with Antelope. But there’s nothing they can do, Laws are now surprising - Their daughter shocked them too, Having wed a bison! Yes, Giraffe was wrong enough, Yet we shouldn’t blame Giraffe, But that one, stating from his nest: "Giraffe is big! He knows best!"
© George Tokarev. Translation, 2001
Edited by Robert Titterton
© Michael Ohlsson. Performance, music, 2010
© Yuri Mishkov. Performance, 2013