Hey driver, take me to Butyrsky prison, And please hurry, step on it." "Too late, friend, some time years ago The prison was torn down." "What a pity, because today I decided to visit my old haunts. All right, driver, then take me to Taganka, I will look, I also done time there." "The old Taganka jail was broken down, Sorry, fellow, life has been like hell." "Okay, driver, then turn your taxi around, Empty handed we will go home." "No, wait driver - let’s smoke a little, And it’s even better if we drink. Let’s drink so there’ll be no prisons left in Russia, So Russia will not have any labor camps."
© Nathan Mer. Translation, 1991