Page 55 - Bilingual Mirvis Family Songs

S. Marshak, Translated by E.Mirvis
The Uncle Calm

Every night all sleep, in nature.
People sleep with no dream-catchers,
An elephant and a swallow sleep,
Tony just wakes in his crib.

He is up all night, and hearing
How the others breathe in peering,
Clock is ticking in the dark,
In the window: doggies bark.

- “Sleep, my boy”, mom blankets cover,
Doesn’t work – he is too stubborn.
Suddenly, the wall clock drummed...
Here‘s appeared The Uncle Calm.

Uncle Calm slipped in the house,
Over cribs leaned, moms and fathers,
On a thread above his head,
Holds a ball with blue-light shed.

Well, it looks like not a baseball,
But like a lantern - bright and stable.
That blue lights disperse in waves,
Whispers quietly and says:

- “One, Two, Three
And Four - Obey rules!
Who else is awake in bedrooms?
Everyone now needs to sleep.
Who will not, - we will not keep!”

The lantern later ceased to glow,
And from all its many doors,-
The birds flew, the whole flight at once
The bullfinches’ crazy dance.

Whoosh! Above boy, over cradle,
The wings whistled straight to gable,
Tony mumbled like as a psalm:
- “Give me one bird, Uncle Calm!”

- “Cannot do, that, Uncle Calm smiled,
This bird’s in your dream, my dear child.
You have been some time asleep,
Sweet dreams, Tony, tight and deep!”

6. Угомон -The Uncle Calm 52
Not for public release