Translated by ANAHIT DARBINYAN
THUMB SAID Thumb said: "Coming, coming, they are coming," Forefinger said: "Who are coming?" Middle finger said: "Wolves are coming." Ring finger said: "Let's run away, hurry, hurry." Little finger said: "I'm so small, I'm so tiny, I've got no feet, Nor have I wings, How can I walk or run away!" And so Thumb said: "We won't run away, We won't retreat from wolves dismay, We will stand shoulder to shoulder, We'll become one fist And get the power!"
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EASTER, EASTER Easter, Easter, Eastertide, Let us squat down side by side, Let's come to terms, And make a vow, I'll take you home to be my wife I don't want household dowry, Only may your foot be lucky*. |
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A LYING TALE (A pun) They pierced the horse, and stole the wall, They took away a pair of cloud-made rope, A plowing duck, A laying cow, Together with her bleating kid. They carried off a hatching ewe, They took away the mouse dressed as cat, They burglarized a sack of breeze, Dried up hailstone, And snake feather. They thieved a whole set of buffalo eggs, Rubble - seeds, They didn't forget even the dog And took away with them its black tail spot Did the thieves need the dog's tail mark? All the same the mark wouldn't bark!
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* * * A twittering lively birdie Flew to the bank of the brook, He ate some seeds, He drank water, Then came and entered my son's bosom. Oh, you, twittering Crazy birdie, Fly away from my sonny's bosom! |
* * * I've got one corn and half to sow, Each house give me an ox to plough, (plow) Each house give me someone to water, Each house give me a scythe to mow, Each house give me a cart to tow, Each house give me a boy to thresh, Each house give me a shovel to winnow, Each house give me a mill to grind, Each house give me a grandma to knead dough, Each house give me a baker to bake a bread, Each house give me a eater to eat! The new want from mouth to mouth, And people came in throng and crowd, They ate and ate, So much they ate, They didn't leave me a mouthful to taste. |
Yuri Sahakyan 2002