Translation:A Sparrow and a Cat

by Jovan Jovanovic Zmaj

Serbian

English

Врабац и мачка "Где ћеш, врапче, зимовати?" - пита мачка врапца стара. "Овде, онде, - туда, свуда!" - тако врабац одговара. "Где ћеш, врапче, данас ручат?" - пита мачка врапца стара. "На крај шора, наврх ора!" - тако врабац одговара. "А где ти је конак, врапче?" - пита мачка врапца стара. "Шта те брига? Погоди га!" - тако врабац одговара. "Знаш ли, море, зашт' те питам?" "Јер си мачка, а ја птица!" - То је реко па утеко, - оста мачка тужна лица.

A Sparrow and a Cat "Where will you winter, sparrow?" - a cat asks a sparrow old. "Here and there, - and everywhere!" - that's how sparrow will respond. "Sparrow, where you'll dine today?" - a cat asks a sparrow old. "In a field, on a tree!"[1] - that's how sparrow will respond. "And where are you living, sparrow?" - a cat asks a sparrow old. "Why do you care? You guess where!" - that's how sparrow will respond. "Listen, you know why I ask you?" "You're a cat, and me - a bird!" - That he said and then he fled, - The cat's sadness could be heard...[2]

Notes

1. In the original: At the end of a street, on a walnut.
2. In the original: The cat stayed with a sad face.