SONG FROM EXILE

Rudansky

Blow, O Wind, unto my Ukraine!

For I left there a sweet maiden.

Yea, two dark-brown eyes I left there—

Blow, thou wind, from midnight onward.

There in Ukraine lies a valley,

In the valley there’s a Khuta;

In the hut there dwells a maiden—

Little maiden, wild she-pigeon.

There, O Wind, Hush and be silent!

Rest above her face in quiet;

Bow above her rosy face, thou;

Look: is she, my sweetheart, sleeping?

Or is she awake, my pigeon?

If she sleeps not, set her dreaming

Of the one she loved, her dearest,

Whom she swore she would forget not.

But, O Wind, if she forget me,

If she have another wooer....

Die away in Ukraina—

Come not back to me in exile!

· · · · ·

And the wind blows on through Ukraine ...

My heart weeps: ’tis full of sorrows ...

And the wind fled into Ukraine,

And it never turnèd backward.