Saturday, October 27, 2018

Verse Compositions, Well-Wishing And Toasts (Continued) pg. 53





Happy is he who deserves, begs for or summons in secret
The touch of your refined face
3.
Wherever I turn, I fall upon your image
I see it in the flowers, wept to, it sings to me
When I talk to it[1] about my sorrow
It seems to me that it’s mocking my tears
Meager consolation, to no longer have the hope
That I purchased at so much effort
The sun burnt[2] me, the wind blows from a wintry quarter
Is it possible to live that which I once lived?
[My] cry is not dead, although wounded
I am well-wishing, as I was to you always
My unpleasant fate has not changed me
Have sweetness in the life that I lost
Temira! Why, when happiness is gone[3]
At the same time, the memory of it does not perish
4.
O, that virtuous hour, Temira
The hour in which you separate from me



[1] Literally “to which”
[2] Literally “heated”
[3] Literally “passes away”

Friday, October 26, 2018

Verse Compositions, Well-Wishing And Toasts pg. 52





Verse Compositions, Well-Wishing and Toasts
1.
That you, handsome lady, I honor and esteem so much
Don’t marvel, on the contrary, women are worth that honor
And when you desire to have an explanation of these sentiments of mine
Desire to read these words of an affectionate poet
“The first smile moved my mouth towards a woman
My first tears a woman’s breath dried
With the first word of her speech she shaped my caress
To a woman I first stretched out my arms
And when in the fog of childhood I recognized [my] mother
Not knowing love- I loved a woman
2.
When, Maryanna, I sketch words in your book
It’s just that in them I express what I’m thinking and feeling
I saw that, desiring your kind life,
Nature gave you an abundance of its gifts
A living wit, quickness of spirit
Something lovable in every movement
Courtesy in deed, the grace of beauty
Capable of, masterful at, warming ice


Thursday, October 25, 2018

Remember Me! pg. 51





Remember Me!
Remember me, when the fading dawn
Casts purple flowers on the earth
Remember me, when the silent nights
Wraps Heaven [and] stars around these rocks
And when the spell of remembrance rolls down around you
Or you close your eyes in a dream
                                    Remember Me!
Remember me, when forever
The necessity of cruel[1] fate separates us
And though it leaves us sometimes far apart in the world
To a broken heart love is still an eternity
Now to whisper softly in the midnight hour
Longing for you from [my] heart, [my] voice flows
                                    Remember Me!
Remember me, when somewhere
A lonely, silent grave swallows life’s torments
When a white flower flares up over the tomb
When sorrow over the future seizes you
My spirit comes flowing amidst the evening stillness
And your fading heart hears a voice
                                                Remember Me!



[1] Literally “iron”

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Krakowiaks (Continued) pg. 50




You don’t have, you don’t have anything[1]  XXXVI. A thousand of my thoughts
Like a young boy                                           Stand in front of me
Come close to my lips[2]                               I would give you my heart
Like to a berry                                                If you loved me in return[3]
When a girl                                                    XXXVII. If I could be yours
Of fifteen years already loves                        I would tell myself
In vain they[4] guard her                               That I had found both beauty
For she has been stolen[5] by a boy              And happiness[6] in you
By my little carriage                                     XXXVIII. Shine, moon, shine
Everyone is running around                         The stars all around it
I love the young lady                                    If you were to be nice [to me]
Who is happy                                               That would be nothing to me
Little green groves                                       XXXIX. Thoughts, my thoughts
Shoot up tall                                                 Lead me to you
Tell me, girl                                                 O, my Marysia
If I am loved by you                                    Hug me to you
Tell [me], then, tell me                                L[7]. A grey pony, grey 
Tell me in secret                                          With a light-colored mane
If you love me or not                                  Although I’m not pretty
Because it’s not nice to deceive                  I’m a living boy



[1] Literally, “you don’t have it”
[2] Literally “kisser, mouth”
[3] Literally “were mutually inclined”
[4] Literally “he guards”
[5] Literally “gotten lost [through]”
[6] Or, “good fortune”
[7] Sic for XL?

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Krakowiaks (Continued) pg. 49





XXI. There is nothing better                  XXVI. The little lark declares
For a young boy                                     The quail urges
Than to take a wife                                 Hold on, girl
Be it ever so good                                   To [your] first love
XXII. Although we separate                   XXVII. On that side of the river
Each to a different direction                    The oats are turning green
Still our hearts                                          If you have to marry poorly
Are not separated                                     The story gets sticky
XXIII. Blow, wind, blow                         XXVIII. Fly, little bird, fly
From the southern side                              From field to field
If she loved me                                          Ask my love for me
I would not want the crown                      If she will be mine
[1]XXIV. I would not want to be king     XXIX. Although I don’t have good looks
Not even Lord of the world                       I am good-natured
O, captor, the way I love                           I will pray to God
XXV. To be loved in return                      That I will be[2] happy[3]
Walking four miles of forest alone           XXX. The water comes down[4] the mountain
I won’t be going after a widow                Downhill, it turns
I prefer a girl                                            To learn how to love
                                                                 That’s the best work




[1] Because verse XXIV, as labeled, has only three lines, and the second line of verse XXV, as labelled, is extra long, I’m guessing the first line of verse XXV, as labelled, is actually the last line of verse XXIV, and that the second line of verse XXV, as labelled is actually two lines, that is, the first two lines of verse XXV.
[2] Literally, “become”
[3] Or, “fortunate”
[4] Literally “from”


Monday, October 22, 2018

Krakowiaks (Continued) pg. 48



XI. If I could sing                                                       XVI. How many times I sighed
I would sing without end                                            Girl, to you
To the forest, to these rocks                                        If [I had sighed] thus to God
To the stars, to the moon                                             I would be long since in Heaven
XII. It’s not a good thing                                            XVII. Count, girl
To sing of Krakowiaks                                                The little stars in the sky
You might gladden some                                             That many [steps] I tread out
[And] make others angry                                             A footpath to you
XIII. To you I am a boy- a boy                                   XVIII. The pine-forests[1] began to whisper
Of homeland nature                                                     The forests began to rustle
I sing of myself                                                            XIX.[2] When there was love
[So] get up!                                                                  Those times passed
XIV. I loved you, girl                                                  XIX. Fly, little bird, fly
Like the apple of my eye                                            Put your feathers in a cross
And you left me                                                          O, captor mine, girl
Already in the first year                                              You look at another
XV. How that is sorrow to the heart                            XX. The great water flows
Like a wound in the heart                                           And the little mill grinds
When she who is loved                                               Not everyone is happy[3]
Doesn’t love [you]                                                      Who possesses much




[1] Literally “Game preserves” ?
[2] Crossed out in original
[3] Or, “fortunate”

Sunday, October 21, 2018

Krakowiaks pg. 47



Krakowiaks[1]
I. That I might get to know a real Pollack                  VI.  A How I’ll characterize for you
I will dance and sing about Krakowiaks for you[2]    Krakowiaks [is] by [their] feet
II. I am a Krakowiak to you                                        They go around with straw on their boots 
Of Krakowian nature                                                   And [making] crashes on the floor
Whoever meets me on the street                                  VII. You play a Krakowiak [song]
 I’m all over him quickly                                              Because it’s cool[3]
III. I’m a Krakowiak to you                                         I love all the young ladies
     [And] whoever doesn’t admit it                              And none of the married women
     [There are] seventy punches                                   VIII. Not only does he sing
     In my fist [for him]                                                 Who is happy
IV. I’m a Krakowiak to you                                         He also hums to himself
      It’s all money-belt[4]                                              Who is sad about something
     Under[5] my shirt                                                     IX.   Come what may
     A red pea-pod[6]                                                      He calls himself a Krakowiak
V. I’m a Krakowiak to you                                            Any gulp he drinks down
     I was born in Krakow                                               And already he’s lifeless
     I was seven years old                                                X.     Maybe I must have
     When I started chasing girls                                      Not been in Krakow
                                                                                        If I wasn’t able
                                                                                        To sing[7] a Krakowiak [song]




[1] In a different handwriting. “Krakowiak” can mean: A person from Krakow, or a dance from Krakow, or a song from Krakow.
[2] Or, “Perform a Krakowiak Dance/Song for you
[3] Literally nice
[4] Literally “Horseshoe-shaped change purse”
[5] Literally “at”
[6] Or, “cocoon”?
[7] Or, “Sing about a Krakowiak [person]”