N. N.
The sun sets, the mountains darken
“Sontse zakhodyt', hory chorniiut'”
The sun sets, the mountains darken,
A bird grows quiet, the field grows mute,
People rejoice that they will rest,
And I look… And with my heart I rush forth
To a dark tiny orchard… to Ukraine
I think a thought, I ponder it,
And it’s as though my heart is resting.
The field blackens, the grove and mountains, too,
And a star emerges in the blue sky.
Oh star! Star! —and tears fall.
Have you already risen in Ukraine yet?
Are brown eyes searching for you
In the deep blue sky? Or do they forget?
If they’ve forgotten, may they fall asleep,
To keep from hearing of my fate.
Taras Shevchenko
“Sontse zakhodyt', hory chorniiut'”
("Сонце заходить, гори чорніють")
1847, Orsk Fortress (Орська фортеця)
Translated by Michael M. Naydan
Original publication:
Taras Shevchenko, Tvory v 6 t. [Works in 6 v.], Kyiv: Naukova dumka, 1968
Source:
"Ukrainian Literature. A Journal of Translations" Volume 1.2004"
Shevchenko Scientific Society, New York, USA
http://www.shevchenko.org/Ukr_Lit/Vol01/01-04.html