But who marches there?

Янка Купала

Янка Купала на
Ведах беларускіх

Translated by Walter May

But who marches there, but who marches there
In such an enormous horde of despair?
— Byelorussians.

But what do they bear on their scraggy backs,
With bleeding hands, and with feet shod in bast?
— Their injustice.

But where do they bear their injustice to,
But where do they bear it in open view?
— To all people.

But what, then, taught these, many million strong,
To rouse up from sleep, and bear forth their wrong?
— Need and sorrow.

But what then, but what had these paupers in mind,
Suppressed through the centuries, deaf and blind?
— To be called humans.