Three wishes

Якуб Колас

Якуб Колас на
Ведах беларускіх

Translated by Vera Rich

Land and bread we are seeking,
Hard is a beggar’s task,
Heaven grants not our needing,
No words for more to ask.

Sun and light we are seeking,
Hard ‘tis to stumble blind,
Hard to live without greeting,
Like some accursed-kind.

We seek life, freedom cherished,
Hard ‘tis the yoke to bear —
And it will never perish,
Perish away nowhere.