Be Thankful.Adapted from Serge Elnitsky, George Tokarev and
Mika Tubinshlak’s translations by Akbar Muhammad.

Don’t care if thou’rt a nail and not a hammer,
Don’t care if thy career took a dive,
Don’t care if thou spent’st years in the slammer —
Be thankful for the fact that thou’rt alive!

So what if thy card partner kicked the bucket?
So what if thy true love told thee a lie?
So what if they deceived thee like a sucker?
Be thankful for the fact that thou’rt alive!

Don’t worry if thou’rt tortured by sarcoma,
Don’t worry if thou stirredst up a beehive,
Don’t worry if thou fell’st into a coma —
Be thankful for the fact that thou’rt alive!

It’s nothing if thou stayedst o’er in the sawdust,
It’s nothing if but troubles boom and thrive,
It’s nothing if thou’rt said to be the broadest —
Be thankful for the fact that thou’rt alive!

It’s true that I should answer for my blunders,
It’s true that I myself choose where to drive!..
Of course, it’s true! but my griped soul wonders:
Who’s he whom should I thank that I’m alive?
Of course, it’s true! but my griped soul wonders:
Who’s he whom should I thank that I’m alive?

1969.