Alexander Levin's poem about the struggle between the Beaver and the Goat

The struggle of Beaver and Goat goes on,
the eternal game.
The Goat calls himself a Beaver,
and calls the Beaver a Goat.
But the Beaver does not lag behind:
he calls himself a Beaver,
sings bold songs
and brandishes an axe.
The Goat is put in jail to sit,
to bleat and to sigh.
The Beaver comes to have a look
and to wave with his little paw.
But then the Beaver is seized
and sits down to sit his time.
The gloating Goat runs up
to have a look at that
and starts teasing the Beaver:
"Now you are the Goat!"
And then it hits him in the snout!
And then in the rib!
And then it gnaws him in return,
and then it strikes with a hoof.
And then it quietly creeps up
and just kills him!
And then it takes and does not die,
and goes on to drown him!
And then it takes him to the kitchen garden
and goes on to butt him with its horns!
And then it whacks him with an axe
and chops until morning.
That is how the struggle with the Goat
of the eternal Beaver goes on.

Literal translation

Alexander Levin