Что такое хорошо и что такое плохо. В. Маяковский

 
What is good and what is bad?


  To accomplish some new tasks 
  One young boy his father asks:
  ``What do in your opinion dad,
  Mean the words ``good`` and ``bad? ``
  Now the father`s point of view
  I put in a book for a review.
  When wind is blowing daylong,
  For the walking may be wrong.
  The sky is blue the sun is up
  Good for a child and grown up.
  When sun is shining half a day
  Take your friend and run to play.
  If a shirt turns into a kite
  And your face is black as night,
  That`s not good and neither right.
  If a boy likes soap and water,
  Brushes teeth and takes a bath
  For the boy it`s good not bad.
  Always quarrels with a friend
  I think this child is very bad.
  At this one I won`t look
  And don’t want him in my book.
  If he helps and gives advice
  I will say this boy is nice.
  Spoils a book as well a ball
  This child is not good at all.
  One who learns, has an open mind
  We can say  that he is kind.
  Fears a crow or a cow,
  In my opinion he is a coward.
  Only this for me is brave,
  Who is not afraid of a knave.
  If a boy is unclean and wet
  We will say that he is bad.
  One who can arrange and organize
  I think that he is very nice.
  If he is  slatternly from childhood,
  That doesn’t sound very good.
  The son has listened to the end
  And then answered to his dad:
``It does not depend on the day or night
  My future deeds will be all right,
  I understand the whole concept
  And will not make my dad upset``.

перевод Алла Кердман
14.10.17