Oh Father! (Continued) pg. 14

Lovingly, sweetly, as in springtime

Birds fly through the little trees

May your life joyfully

Weave itself into a wreath of delight

            Daddy, I’ll give you something small

            I can’t do anything [much], I am so poor

            Live a century for us, that’s how I’d like[1] it

            And today I’ll give [you] a kiss from [my] heart

To Mother!

I am a little child, I can’t offer congratulations

Except, mommy, [I can] kiss your hand

            Of Relatives!

            Today my heart beats harder

            As if happiness is taking it over

            So why? Because today itself

            Your name day has come

I’m very happy over this

And to you, right away in the meaning

I quickly hurry with well-wishes

My beloved… At…

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[1] Female verb form

To Grandmother! pg. 13

To Grandmother!

Darling Grandmother!

On the day on which each one wishes

Health, happiness and sweetness

On which they praise with tenderness

Humility and gratitude

            Accept [my] offering, however small

            I give you, well, what came out

            But I also sincerely say [it]

            [And] pray to God for your health

Oh, Father![1]

May God love you, daddy

May he give you lots of gold

This your Zosia wishes you

Who here has a heart for you

            A century of life in excess

May the good God give [you]

[And] with that strength and a loving world

And the cornucopia[2] of happiness[3]

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[1] The author of the poem titled “O Father!” gives her name as “Zosia” and is presumably fairly young, as she uses “baby talk” word for “God”.

[2] Literally “horn”

[3] Or “good fortune”

To The Groom (Continued) pg. 12

Happy is the Savior’s coming to Earth

With [His] share of noble, eternal love

When Heaven itself promises you

And my obliging heart wishes

            That you, living, living long in prosperity

            Will not be subject to any suffering

            And having fulfilled the appointed time

            Will rejoice with God in heaven forever

            [And] that we will see each other in heaven

The New Year

This New Year, this young year

May it shine blissfully on you[1]

May it, in pleasure and serenity

Fulfill all your[2] hopes

            In the New Year, O My Father,

May happiness[3] itself nurture you[4]

To me, however, don’t give[5] anything more

Only love[6] me forever

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[1] You plural

[2] Your plural

[3] Or “good fortune”

[4] You plural

[5] “you give” plural

[6] “you love” plural

To The Groom! (Continued) pg. 11

Whether they will place their heart in another

Whether in the future they will satisfy them

            So quickly, so fast

            The year run in rapids[1]

            Like the little clouds in the sky

            Like the water in a stream

And love for you

Like a little flower in springtime

            In my heart, every day

            The plant unfolds

As many stars as burn in heaven

In the serenity of night

As many fish as [there are] where the river sinks

In the clear water

As many moments of life as I [can] count

That many happinesses[2] I wish you

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[1] The word translated here as “rapids” is Ukrainian in origin.

[2] Or, “that much good fortune”

To The Bride! (Continued) pg. 10

May [your] husband always, for you

Be favorable and return[1] your love[2]

To The Groom!

Today let us be merry and young

Today you have no small happiness

May your whole life be

Like today’s feast

            Beside you, your wife

            As if the world was standing in her, as a decoration

            You to her as she to you

            Predestined for taking care of

You be the head, and she will be

A help to you in your house

Love each other always, everywhere

Don’t do anything secretly

            May they sit, may they ponder

            Whoever enters into a marriage bond forever

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[1] Literally “be mutual”

[2] Second handwriting ends.

To The Newlyweds! (Continued) pg. 9

May love brighten

This family house of yours[1]

And may God himself, O bride and groom

Keep watch on this house

To The Bride![2]

Today your hours are merry

Today we should make merry

[And] beseech God to free up

And shower [you] with gifts from heaven

            Pray to Divine Providence

            That you will be a good bride

            That you will not know [your] husband’s anger

            But become an affectionate mother

A new state, new burdens

New cares will come to you

But aim for a gentle[3] and loving bed[4]

With Divine Providence

May, in every need

The secret, Divine spirit support you

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[1] "Yours", plural

[2] Second handwriting begins.

[3]  Or “soft”

[4] Tagodne The word translated here as “bed” is Russian/Ukrainian in origin.

To The Newlyweds! pg. 8

To The Newlyweds!

My bride and groom

I aim to wish [you] well

May these honey-sweet moments

Last like today’s until tomorrow

            And the day after tomorrow

            Honey-sweet days ensue again

            Last forever, never end

The sea is so beautiful today

In the skein of life, God’s thread

Grant us, God, even before that

The delight of living long

            Which, sweetening the running years

            Makes the world as if new

            And again, in the ages of life, weaves in

            The fresh flower of regeneration

I raise up a full cup

And drink to your honor

May the days pass for you[1] in esteem

May God let [you] braid [your] life of roses

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[1] You plural