Years of my unruly youth, notorious and noisy,
I myself have poisoned you with а bitter poison.
Whether I'll die soon or later on I've no idea.
Eyes that once were blue as blue, now so pale appear.
Joy, where are you? AII is dark - grief and pain I suffer.
Are you in the fields? Or tavern, maybe? There is nothing.
I put out my hand and from sounds alone I gather".
Off we drive... а sleigh... deep snow... through а wood we gallop.
Hey there, driver ! Go full tilt! You've got guts, I'II wager.
On such rutted tracks do not grudge your soul а shaking.
All the driver says is this: "You're in serious trouble
If your horse sweats in а snowstorm, going at the double."
"Driver, you're а coward! Going slow is not our habit!"
I myself took up the whip and let the horses have it!
Like the wind the horses flew, miles flew by unnoticed.
Then а sudden jolt... and I landed in а snowdrift.
Opening my eyes I saw that the sleigh had vanished,
In а hospital bed I lay with my head all bandaged.
And instead of horses three, down the highway dashing,
With а blood-red dressing my iron bed I'm lashing.
On my watch the hands are twisted, their moustaches curling.
Bending low to peer at me stand the sleepy nurses.
"Listen, goldilocks ! " they say, "you're too wild and noisy,
You're to blame for your own ruin, drinking bitter
"Whether you shall die or live we have not а notion.
It's in taverns your blue eyes poison. got their thorough soaking".