Osip Mandelshtam
Dante and the Cabby

With the pep of the working classes,
a cabby ranted away to Dante,
comparing their circumstances,
both of them freelance of course.

“...Me too, that organ’s a fave of mine.
The Rome’s my top ristorante,
though I’m like you, pure Florentine.
Governor, I’m neither a thug nor a thief !
But it don’t matter how much I feed my horses,
eight to ten years, they all come to grief,
and then, chop chop, I restock my resources.
About as long as your Beatrice issue...
Not that I’m trying to diss you
or anything. You’re like my old man!
Right now I can take you anywhere, I can.
But do me a favour, when the days get shorter
and stop them raising them bridges this Autumn!”

Translated by Alistair Noon