Samuil Marshak
Old woman, close the door!

On a holiday eve, a mistress toiled
At the tomorrow's fare
She baked, and fried, and stewed, and boiled.
Etcetera... Don't care.

The weather yet was pretty bad,
With a cold wind; therefore,
The old man from his corner said,
"Old woman, close the door".

"Next to the oven I don't
Feel any cold", she said,
And I am busy; if you want
You go and close it."

For half-an-hour they were
Just arguing like that
Until about this damned door,
Old man proposed the bet:

"Let us stop talking, you, old crone",
Suggested he to her,
"And first who says a word alone,
That one will close the door."

An hour has passed, the next one then,
Both strictly silence keep.
The oven 's got cold again.
And it is time to sleep.

The clock tolls already midnight,
The door is open still.
And then appear two passersby.
The house is quiet and still.

Guests enter in and loudly say,
"Is anybody here?"
Nobody answers, anyway,
So everything looks clear.

Then, from the oven they take
The chicken and the pie,
The owners no sound make,
Just nothing in reply.

They found the pipe of the old man.
"Tobacco is very good!"
Some beer from a barrel drank.
The owners are mute.

The guests took everything they can,
Once more at th' oven looked,
Went through the court and noticed then,
"Their pie is undercooked!"

"No, it is not! It's just OK!",
The old woman did roar,
While the old man did quietly say,
"Old woman, close the door!"

Translated by Vladimir Gurvich