The spring had barely started, I felt so easy-hearted, I thought I’d leave the whole world in my dust; Then came along two fellows, In yellow, in yellow, "Get dressed", they said to me, "and come with us." I begged the sergeant, as I packed my things: "Please don’t take me away from the spring!" Till May they kept on pressing For me to start confessing, For forty days, to "I don’t know" I stuck; Then came the sudden crusher, When they arrested Masha - And then I knew that I was outta luck.                                                    
© Serge Elnitsky. Translation, 2003