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🚧Emigrants’ song

Максім Багдановіч
Максім Багдановіч на
Ведах беларускіх

Translated by

EMIGRANTS’SONG

There are in this world such far-rovers Who believe not in God nor in devil, Who delight in bright banners high over The ships that in ocean ports revel.

They have none here to leave whom they cherish For they have neither kin nor belongings, They care not if they live or they perish, On one sole aim are fixed all their longings:

To visit lands, so far unsought-for,

To taste there of fortune and grieving, And to perish among the salt waters Of blue seas where white foam is heaving.

But we do not seek such a bounty, It is not far lands we are needing, We would not have left our dear country If there had been bread for our feeding.

And in clatter and noise of streets roaming, Where the crowd, ever-restless, whirls streaming, We dream of the village, the Nioman1, And Libava2 with harbour lights gleaming.

Translated by Vera Rich.

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Collections: Belarusan Lyric poetry