| Traduzione inglese dall’E-book collection dell’Università della California |
A VOGN SHIKH | A WAGON OF SHOES |
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Di reder yogn, yogn | The wheels they drag and drag on, |
Vos brengen zey mit zikh? | What do they bring, and whose? |
Zey brengen mir a vogn | They bring along a wagon |
Mit tsaplendike shikh | Filled with throbbing shoes. |
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Der vogn vi a khupe | The wagon like a khupa [*] |
In oventikn glants | In evening glow, enchants: |
Di shikh- a fule kupe | The shoes piled up and heaped up, |
Vi mentshn in a tants | Like people in a dance. |
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A khasene, a yontev? | A holiday, a wedding? |
Tsi hor mikh ver farblendt? | As dazzling as a ball! |
Di shikh-azoyne noente | The shoes — familiar, spreading, |
Oyf s’nay ikh hob derkent. | I recognize them all. |
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Es klapn di optsasn : | The heels tap with no malice: |
Vuhin? Vuhin? Vuhin? | Where do they pull us in? |
Fun alte vilner gasn | From ancient Vilna alleys, |
Me traybt undz keyn Berlin. | They drive us to Berlin. |
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Ikh darf nisht fregn vemes | I must not ask you whose, |
Nor s’tut in hartz a ris: | My heart, it skips a beat: |
O zogt mir shikh, dem emes, | Tell me the truth, oh, shoes, |
Vu zenen zey di fis? | Where disappeared the feet? |
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Di fis fun yene tufl | The feet of pumps so shoddy, |
Mit kneplekh vi toy, | With buttondrops like dew — |
Un do-vu iz dos gufl, | Where is the little body? |
Un dort vu iz di froy? | Where is the woman too? |
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In kindershikh in ale | All children's shoes — but where |
Vos ze ikh nit keyn kind? | Are all the children's feet? |
Vos tut nit on di kale | Why does the bride not wear |
Di shikhelekh atsind? | Her shoes so bright and neat? |
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Durkh kindershikh un shkrabes | 'Mid clogs and children's sandals, |
Kh’derken mayn mames shikh! | My Mama's shoes I see! |
Zi flegt zey bloyz oyf shabes | On Sabbath, like the candles, |
Aroyftsien oyf zikh | She'd put them on in glee. |
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Un s’klapn di optsasn: | The heels tap with no malice: |
Vuhin? Vuhin? Vuhin? | Where do they pull us in? |
Fun alte vilner gasn | From ancient Vilna alleys, |
Me traybt undz keyn Berlin. | They drive us to Berlin. |