Ю. Владимиров Чудаки

Я послал на базар чудаков,
Дал чудакам пятаков:
Один пятак — на кушак,
Другой пятак — на колпак,
А третий пятак — так.
По пути на базар чудаки
Перепутали все пятаки:
Который пятак — на кушак,
Который пятак — на колпак,
А который пятак — так.
Только ночью пришли чудаки,
Принесли мне назад пятаки.
— Извините, но с нами беда:
Мы забыли — который — куда:
Который пятак — на кушак,
Который пятак — на колпак,
А который пятак — так.

Ju. Vladimirov The Fools

I sent three fools to the market place,
I gave them three nickels and was off base.
One coin for a sash with a coloured lace,
Another coin for a cap that would fit my face
And the third coin for something else by their grace.

On the way to the market the fools
Mixed up all the coins and the rules:
Which coin for a sash a with coloured lace,
Which coin for the cap that would fit my face,
And which coin for something else by their grace.

Late at night theу came back from the market place
With the nickels they could spend in no case:
“Oh, sorry, we forgot – which coin was for what!..
Which coin for a sash a with coloured lace,
Which coin for the cap that would fit your face,
And which coin for something else by our grace.”