Чистый nonsense

O my aged Uncle Arly!
Sitting on a heap of Barley
     Thro’ the silent hours of night, —
Close beside a leafy thicket: —
On his nose there was a Cricket, —
In his hat a Railway-Ticket; —
     (But his shoes were far too tight.)

II

Long ago, in youth, he squander’d
All his goods away, and wander’d
     To the Tiniskoop-hills afar.
There on golden sunsets blazing,
Every morning found him gazing, —
Singing – “Orb! you’re quite amazing!
     How I wonder what you are!”

III

Like the ancient Medes and Persians,
Always by his own exertions
     He subsisted on those hills; —
Whiles, – by teaching children spelling, —
Or at times by merely yelling, —
Or at intervals by selling
     “Propter’s Nicodemus Pills.”

IV

Later, in his morning rambles
He perceived the moving brambles —
     Something square and white disclose; —
‘Twas a First-class Railway-Ticket;
But, on stooping down to pick it
Off the ground, – a pea-green Cricket
     Settled on my uncle’s Nose.

V

Never – never more, – oh! never,
Did that Cricket leave him ever, —
     Dawn or evening, day or night; —
Clinging as a constant treasure, —
Chirping with a cheerious measure, —
Wholly to my uncle’s pleasure
     (Though his shoes were far too tight.)

VI

So for three-and-forty winters,
Till his shoes were worn to splinters,
     All those hills he wander’d o’er, —
Sometimes silent; – sometimes yelling; —
Till he came to Borley-Melling,
Near his old ancestral dwelling; —
     (But his shoes were far too tight.)

VII

On a little heap of Barley
Died my aged uncle Arly,
     And they buried him one night; —
Close beside the leafy thicket; —
There, – his hat and Railway-Ticket; —
There, – his ever-faithful Cricket; —
     (But his shoes were far too tight.)

Эпизоды жизни моего дяди Арли

I

О мой Арли незабвенный!
Ночью на копне ячменной
Он сидел в тени ольхи:
На носу – Сверчок дотошный,
Шляпа, железнодорожный
В ней билет пустопорожний
(Жутко жали башмаки).

II

В юности, давно когда-то,
Жил он праздно и богато,
Всё спустил, побрёл к Холмам.
Там прижился, наблюдая
Ход светил и распевая:
«Солнце! Сфера золотая!
Ты загадка!» – по утрам.

III

Словно перс или мидянин,
Он трудился, неустанен,
Чтобы жить среди Холмов —
Детям знанья отдавая,
Временами завывая
И недужным продавая
Груды разных порошков.

IV

Как-то на прогулке ранней
Углядел квадратик странный —
На земле билет белел;
Дядя Арли встрепенулся
И поднять его нагнулся,
Тут Сверчонок подвернулся,
Прыг – и на нос Арли сел.

V

Так они и задружились —
Пили, ели, спать ложились
Неразлейные дружки;
Пел Сверчок не умолкая,
Вкусу дяди потакая,
Арли нравилась такая
Жизнь (хоть жали башмаки).

VI