Taras Shevchenko's poem "Why do I feel so heavy? Why so weary?". Ukrainian-to-English translation by С.H. Andrusyshen and Watson Kirkconnell

Why do I feel so heavy? Why so weary?

("Choho meni tiazhko, choho meni nudno")

Why do I feel so heavy? Why so weary?
Why does my soul in wailing grief lament
Like a starved child? Ah, heart oppressed and dreary,
What do you wish? What is your discontent?
Are you for food, or drink, or sleep aspirant?
Sleep, then, my soul! Forever sleep apart,
Shattered, uncovered...
Let the senseless tyrant Rage ever on...
Close, close your eyes, my heart!

Taras Shevchenko
"Choho meni tiazhko, choho meni nudno"
("Чого мені тяжко, чого мені нудно")
1844, S.- Petersburg, (C. - Петербург)

Translated by С.H. Andrusyshen and Watson Kirkconnell

Original publication: Тарас Шевченко. Зібрання творів: У 6 т. — К., 2003. — Т. 1: Поезія 1837-1847. — С. 279-281; С. 706-708

Source: The Poetical Works of Taras Shevchenko. The Kobzar. Translated from the Ukrainian by С.H. Andrusyshen and Watson Kirkconnell. Published for the Ukrainian Canadian Committee by University of Toronto Press, 1964. Toronto and Buffalo. Printed in Canada, Reprinted 1977, p. 178 - 181

Here you can find Ukrainian text of the Taras Shevchenko's poem:
Original poem in Ukrainian