Bulat Okudzhava
On niggards, braggarts and dimwits

While braggarts walk the earth — I say it’s great,
We should be thanking heavens for our fate.
The skies are blue, the clouds are swirling!
We are no advocates of burgling.
To get a braggart use no knife:
But give his bragging a high-five —
And you possess his life.

While niggards walk the earth — a pot of gold —
Onto our lucky draw we firmly hold.
The skies are blue, the clouds are swirling!
We are no advocates of burgling.
To get a niggard use no knife:
But for a copper he would strive —
And you possess his life.

While dimwits walk the earth — for him with wit
A swindle comes in handy, doesn’t it?
The skies are blue, the clouds are swirling!
We are no advocates of burgling.
To get a dimwit use no knife:
But all you do is lie a hive —
And you possess his life.

The skies are blue, the clouds are swirling!
To get these three is never early,
Nor are their numbers running out.
Talk of the devil, as they say —
And you'll see horns no doubt!

Translated by Evgenia Sarkisyants