Di Grine Kuzine
Tsu mir iz gekumen a kuzine
Sheyn vi gold iz zi geven, di grine
Bekelakh vi royte pomerantsn
Fiselakh vos betn zich tsum tantsn.
Herelakh vi zaydn-veb gelokte
Tseyndelekh vi perelakh getokte
Eygelakh vi himl-bloy in friling
Lipelekh vi karshelekh a tsviling.
Nisht gegangen iz zi, nor geshprungen
Nisht geret hot zi, nor gezungen
Lebedik un freylekh yede mine -
Ot aza geven iz mayn kuzine.
Un azoy ariber tseyner yorn
Fun mayn kuzine iz a tel gevorn
"Peides" hot zi vokhenlang geklibn
Biz fun ir iz gornisht nit geblibn.
Haynt az ikh bagegen mayn kuzine
Un ikh freg ir: S'makhtsu epes, Grine?
Ziftst zi op, un kh'leyen in ir mine:
Brenen zol Colombus' es medine!
There came to me a green cousin,
And a beauty, and a green one.
Little cheeks like red oranges
Little feet that only beg to dance.
(Und dan gekummen meyne nexdorke
Voz zi hot a millinery shtorke
A dzhob hot zi gehad for meyne kusine!
A zei sheyn iz Columbus’es medineh!.)
(And then came my next-door neighbor
What she had a small millenary store
She had a job for my cousin!
How wonderful, Columbus’s country!)
And now after tens of years,
My cousin became a wreck,
(Work for) Paydays took their toll
From her, nothing good remained..
Now when run into my cousin
And I ask, how are you doing, Greenie?
She sighs and I can read it in her eyes:
“Go to hell, Columbus’s country.”
Di Grine Kuzine.
Tsu Mir Iz Gekumen A Kuzine
Sheyn Vi Gold Iz Zi Geven, Di Grine
BEKELAKH VI ROYTE POMERANTSN
Fiselakh Vos Betn Zich Tsum Tantsn.
Herelakh VI Zaydn-Veb Gelokte
Tseyndelekh VI Perelakh Getokte
EYGELAKH VI HIML BLOY IN FRILING
Lipelekh Vi Karshelekh a tsviling.
Nisht Gegangen Iz Zi, Nor GeshPrungen
Nisht Geret Hot Zi, Nor Gezungen
Lebedik Un Freylekh Yede Mine -
Ot Aza Geven Iz Mayn Kuzine.
UN AZOY ARIBER TSEYNER YORN
Fun Mayn Kuzine Iz a tel gevorn
"Peides" Hot Zi Vokhenlang Geklibn
Biz Fun IR IZ Gornisht Nit Geblibn.
HAYNT AZ IKH BAGEN MAYN KUZINE
Un IKH FREG IR: S'Makhtsu EPES, Grine?
Ziftst Zi Op, Un Kh'leyen in Ir Mine:
Brenen Zol Colombus' es Medine!
There Came to Me a Green Cousin
And a beauty, and a green one.
Little Cheeks Like Red Oranges
Little Feet That Only Beg to Dance.
Und Dan Gekummen Meyne Nexdorke
Voz Zi Hot A Millinery Shtorke
A DZHOB HOT ZI GEHAD FOR MEYNE KUSINE!
A Zei Sheyn Iz Columbus'es Medineh!.)
(And Then Came My Next-Door Neighbor
What She Had A Small Millenary Store
SHE HAD A JOB FOR MY COUSIN!
How Wonderful, Columbus's Country!)
And Now After Tens of Years,
My Cousin Became A Wreck
(Work for) Paydays Took Their Toll
From Her, Nothing Good Remained ..
NOW WHEN RUN INTO MY COUSIN
And I Ask, How Are You Doing, Greenie?
SHE SIGHS AND I CAN READ IT IN HER EYES:
"Go to Hell, Columbus's Country."
