Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Contra spem spero! (Hope Against Hope)

By Lesya Ukrainka (1890)

Away, thoughts - you heavy, autumn clouds!
Now the spring comes, gleaming gold!
Is it with such pity, lamenting aloud
That the stories of young summers are told?

No, I want to laugh through my tears,
And sing songs amongst the fray,
Without hope comes fears,
Let me live! Sad thoughts - away!

Standing on poor and sad fallow land
I will sow colourful flowers,
I will sow flowers in cold sand,
I will give them bitter tear-showers.

And those tears will melt hot,
That crust is ice, strong,
Maybe, flowers come up - and plot
A spring for me that's happy and long.

On a steep flint mountain
I will lift a heavy stone
And, bearing that terrible burden,
I'll sing a fun song.

Through the long, endless, dark night,
Not for a moment will I close my eyes,
I will search for the star that lights,
The clear, bright mistress of the skies.

Yes! I will laugh through my tears,
and sing songs amongst the fray,
Without hope comes fears,
Let me live! Sad thoughts - away!

Translation - Richard Pettifer (2022)

with Olha Velymchanytsia