Forgetting business affairs and anxiety And not the strength to retain, So I like to stand by the wayside Confusing latecoming passers-by. "Citizen, grant me a cigarette!" I don’t smoke. Excuse me for the present!" And then I just simply without asking I take away uncle’s shoulder-bag. He feigned that already everything is forgotten, Running half a hundred steps, The uncle calls me a bandit, A hoologan and that was the last I saw of him.. If however I met a woman - I ask of her not something for smoking, I tell her quite calmly, That she has nowhere to hurry any more. Forgetting business affairs and anxiety And not the strength to retain, So I like to stand by the wayside! It only should be better, if I wouldn’t meet a woman!
© Elisabeth Jelinek. Translation, 2018