Leave for a while family squabbles.
About the golden fish I will tell you a fairy tale.
I foresee your smiles in advance -
Well, who did not read the fairy tale about the fish?
With all due respect to the talent of the Poet
I will read this fairytale differently to you.
So...
By the cold blue sea
Once upon a time stood a compound.
Perhaps the compound already said loudly
Sloping habits, straw on the roof.
The fence fell, the gate fell,
Limping cart in a wretched barn.
The glass is about to fall out of the window,
Of all the animals - the dog and the cat.
The reason is clear: an old man with an old woman
Do not just cope with the everyday chaos.
Because they did not live in Sochi,
They did not hand over the rooms to the resort.
Long forgotten old granddaughters
And the money the fake old man did not print.
The family gold was not stored in the pots.
The old man and the old woman did not live richly.
In addition to children, they were acquired
Two pairs of sandals, but a thin trough.
And their life was hard and miserable.
Just something and happiness that the sea at hand.
The old man is not a bummer, and the network is preserved,
And the fish at that time in abundance caught.
Yes, and would have lived, his age is short
Neither the life of another, nor the wealth of knowing
Neither shaky, nor roll, nor sweet, nor bad,
Kohl would not have been a miracle to heaven.
Once the old man went, as usual
To the cold sea for fishing,
He threw a net into the whitish waves,
Ashore sat in anticipation of the catch.
Forgetting, stared pockmarked in the sky,
Yes, and fell asleep under the hiss of the surf.
I woke up the old man from buzzing and howling -
On the coast rushes wave after wave.
Breakers soar horses that dashing.
Looks like the element is not a joke.
Water and foam play the wind.
Like copper strings, nets are taut.
Oak stakes bends with a splinter.
Just about the whole catch will rush into the abyss.
The old man grabbed onto the urine net,
Heavy burden of the sea drags.
The rich catch of his net nailed.
And suddenly from the shine in his eyes dawned.
He looked at the old man, and his legs became unsteady:
Amid gray roach unusual fish.
Her scales are like a thousand sparkles,
And the crown with a thimble sparkles with gold.
And the old man understood, excitement,
That the Queen of the sea hit the net.
While the old man was recovering from the excitement,
From the seine, the girl’s voice rang out:
- Listen, fisherman, through the fault of providence
Today I became your captive.
And, as it is the royal order,
I will not stand at any price.
Ask for a worthy Queen reward,
Ask for rubies, diamonds and gold.
At the bottom of the ocean, in the depths of the bottomless
Such trinkets scattered tons.
I promise you - you will not lose.
I see that you do not eat honey with a spoon.
There, the jacket is thin, but bast shoes were demolished.
On the ass patches fell off long ago.
And in the grid of your hole you do not pat.
Two more zakid - and the hell that you catch.
After thinking for a minute, the old man replies:
- Of course, your reward is impressive.
Who doesn't need amber and diamonds?
You can buy with them a lot and immediately.
Such a reward will warm anyone.
With such wealth and the king ohreneet.
Here is just one drawback in gold -
You will quickly get used to the life of the rich.
Barely plunge - already sucked.
Today's luxury to tomorrow is not enough.
Palaces, hippodromes, estates, gypsies -
The reasons for waste are that of water in the ocean.
Blowed, robbed, guests came -
And the money between the fingers sand flowed.
And with a woman's fantasy - smash the trouble
Well your chests are not a bottomless barrel.
You look, at the last you will get drunk.
You are the same again and you will not get through.
Let all the wealth at the bottom remains.
Perhaps, with whom it is necessary to reckon.
I don’t need any money or money.
Another reward will warm my soul.
I ask you to return the Queen of the Sea,
In exchange for freedom, I have a male power.
... In the fish, something in the larynx sank:
- Not a little I flew into the network for drunk,
But honestly I say - how many times have not caught,
This has never been asked.
Well, hut, well, title, well, a yacht in Venice, -
But to change the good to the potency?
O people, about manners! Where does the world go?
An old man went crazy to be a cuttlefish.
After all, if they think all about old women,
Who is to sell me my trinkets?
The old man is stubborn, on his presses:
Give me back the strength that the flesh raises.
And you will be obstinate, even though the queen -
We'll have to treat you to dinner.
Seeing that the gold does not shine off,
“Let it be your way,” said the captive.
The whole body about the waves hit with force
And from the crown to the heels of the old man poured.
And he suddenly feels a change in himself.
I can not believe - stir in the pants.
Suddenly all the signs of a man became visible.
And this is no apparent reason.
Oh dear, how does it all get better
As soon as such a reason presents itself?
The old man is impatiently throwing a net,
All fish back into the ocean releases.
What kind of fishing, eat her flies?
And frisky gait rushes to the old woman.
Having seen the spouse, the old woman fell -
She had never seen such a wedding.
Who is the woman lying in the joy?
She didn’t get to bed that time.
And his grandfather's strength grows from time to time.
He brings his woman to ecstasy.
Only the sun behind the mountain - their bed, that violin.
Truly, the fish worked nicely.
Adversity, afflictions, sadness are forgotten.
Love spouse indulge at night.
And in the morning their cheerfulness knows no bounds.
The barn is filled with wheat harvest.
Grandfather built a new hut a week
Such mansions that the king is not worthy.
And the woman is now a match for him too -
Face and soul of forty years younger.
As a girl, she has time around the house.
Sweeps, sews, cooks, erase.
The old man now walks in a satin caftan,
Dumplings with a fork rolls in sour cream.
Gusyatinu with horseradish wine washed down,
And the golden fish remembers good.
V. Bondarev
2001