In yellow hot Africa, In its central part, Outside the graph There happened a misfortune. The elephant said with confusion: "Looks like a deluge will strike us! Looks like one of our giraffes Fell in love with an antelope." There was chaos and noise. And only one old parrot Screamed from the branches: "Giraffe is big, let him decide..." "So, what if she has horns?" The giraffe screamed lovingly, "Now in our entire herd Everybody’s equal. And If my whole family Will not be happy for her - Don’t even blame me, I will leave the herd." There was chaos and noise. And only one old parrot Screamed from the branches: "Giraffe is big, let him decide..." An antelope’s good father Doesn’t need a son-in-law like him - He is brainless, he won’t change, A coconut head - that giraffe. And giraffe’s father-in-law said: "Just look at that dolt!" And the giraffe with his antelope Went to live with bisons. There was chaos and noise. And only one old parrot Screamed from the branches: "Giraffe is big, let him decide..." In yellow hot Africa There are no idylls. Giraffe’s father and mother Are in crocodile’s tears. Only nothing can help the grief, There are no laws now: Giraffe’s only daughter Had married a bison. And maybe the giraffe was wrong, But don’t blame the giraffe, Blame the one who screamed: "Giraffe is big, let him decide..."
© Nathan Mer. Translation, 1991