From America, potato, you’ve made your journey here,
Enlightenment arrived from Europe, which is near.
O, potato, at first you looked so odd and weird,
People were prejudiced to you and thought you a ‘jadid’:*
“Sinners brought it here, who refuse by God to abide.
Can’t you understand? Potato’s poisonous inside!”
Poor little thing, whether a vegetable or fruit,
People despised you, pulling out every root.
“Whoever eats the nasty thing will be punished,”
“Evil apple” they called you and urged you banished.
Good for you, potato, these wicked times are gone,
Comfort in the belly of a Tatar you have won!
You know, a Tatar burps and says how Allah’s great.
The Tatar praises the Lord, after emptying the plate.
Enlightenment, this pattern you should follow:
Just give our men the wisdom fruit to swallow.
1912
В оригинале на татарском: Бәрәңге вә гыйлем
В переводе на русский язык: Картофель и просвещение (Перевод В.Думаевой-Валиевой)