Slova lyshylysya slovamy,
Choch kolo sercya y zapeklo –
Ta svit, yak more, vstav miz namy,
A more sliv, amore, amo, –
To prosto nashe remeslo.

U nomu my vze dva maestro –
Kosa na kamin, zub na zub, –
O, yak nam tisno z Vamy, sestro,
V prozoriy kameri orkestru,
De tilky svichka pomiz hub!..

Ne vidsachnutys' i ne zlytys',
Tut vse u svitu na ochach,
I bulo b smishno z c'oho zlytys' –
To my y smiyemos'... Chy z koly chtos'
Rozdilyt' posmishku y pechal?

Tak harno svichka pered Vamy,
Yak pered obrazom, splyva –
Krok vid komediyi do dramy...
Slova lyshylysya slovamy –
Ale z yaki buly slova!..
Slova...