From the collection of the USSR State Film Archive "The Little Screw", 1927
With a clattering and humming, With the steel machines a-thrumming,
Chirk-chirk! Chirk-chirk! Chirk! The factory's at work!
Ach
So this factory right here Worked all year!
Only, hear:
One fine day it was their fate To elect a delegate...
I'm the biggest and the best! Yes! Yes! Yes!
Don't forget about me! I'm not just anybody!
I'm all that!
I'm the smartest of you all!
The Little Screw listened, listened, And not once did he disrupt, Nor their meeting interrupt.
But at last, he raised his hand, Cleared his throat a little, and...
Clearly, simply, sensibly Asked to take his turn to speak.
Shame! Shame! Shame!
We, venerable machines, Won't hear from one small and weak! We're not going to let you speak!
When the Little Screw perceived That he was mocked and aggrieved
He didn't get mad, He didn't swear,
He did not show them his fist, But said:
"So, that's how it is?!"
Then, he turned around and left!
"Goodbye, then!"
The next day...
Oo-oo-ooh!
They were stressed, worried, sad, They were sweating like mad!..
Yet the factory that day Would not work, in any way.
What's the matter? What is wrong? Look, the Little Screw is gone!
Though he's small, but, what a bother! Where are we to find another?!
Without him, we are undone! We can't live a day, not one!
Then, the guilty machines, chastened, To the Little Screw's home hastened.
Big, humongous, What a ruckus!
All in metal! Screwed on tight! What a fright!
And, with a respectful bowing That their spines could hardly stand,
The machines whispered, abashed: "Please forgive us, citizen!"
"HERE LIVES THE LITTLE SCREW"
The Little Screw nattered, clattered, In his tattered pockets rattled,
Then put on his flat cap battered,
And, as he back to work headed, He said to them that did flatter:
"There, that's better!!!!"
Remember this, young gun:
It's unworthy of one
Who may be big and tall
To lord over one small!
USSR, 1927
Attempted reconstruction of missing inter- titles & translation from Agnivtsev's 1925 book by Niffiwan (2026.04) Animatsiya.net