Папа упал в пруд

Daddy Fell into the Pond
by Alfred Noyes

Everyone grumbled. The sky was grey.
We had nothing to do and nothing to say.
We were nearing the end of a dismal day,
And then there seemed to be nothing beyond,
Then
Daddy fell into the pond!
And everyone's face grew merry and bright,
And Timothy danced for sheer delight.
"Give me the camera, quick, oh quick!
He's crawling out of the duckweed!" Click!
Then the gardener suddenly slapped his knee,
And doubled up, shaking silently,
And the ducks all quacked as if they were daft,
And it sounded as if the old drake laughed.
Oh, there wasn't a thing that didn't respond
When
Daddy Fell into the pond!


Альфред Нойес

Небо серое. В печали
Все сидели и молчали.
Иногда ещё ворчали:
“Скучно как часы идут”.
И тут
Папа вдруг свалился в пруд!

Стали лица веселей
И подпрыгнул Тимофей.
Быстро с камерой возник.
“Лезет он из ряски!” Клик.


А садовник откровенно
Хлопнул весело колено.
Утки крякали. Кряк. Кряк.
Старый Дрейк смеётся так.
Унывать тяжёлый труд.
А тут
Папа вдруг свалился в пруд!