ABM -- Poem (in English and Belarusian): "A New Century. . ." by Nil Hilevic^ - - - - - - - - - - - - -

This File Last Updated: 2004/10/16

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Новы век. . .

Ніл Гілевіч

Новы век
Азарыў небасхіл.
«Чый ён будзе?» —
Прарокі гамоняць.
Будзе наш —
Калі выстарчыць сіл
У цябе,
Беларуская моладзь!
Значыць,
Трэба па долю ісьці
Зь цьвёрдай верай,
Што вёрсты ня змораць.
Дык ня страць,
Не ўступі,
Не ўпусьці
Гэты шанц,
Беларуская моладзь!
Хай за зданьню
Пачварыцца здань —
Сілу волата
Цені ня зломяць.
Час прабіў:
Уздыміся
I стань
У шыхты,
Беларуская моладзь!
Веру:
Выпаўзьні з чорнай начы
Дух твой вольны
На здраду ня змовяць.
Раздрузгоч,
Раскрышы
I зьмяці
Іх кубло,
Беларуская моладзь!
Помні:
Волю ў змаганьні бяруць,
А ня просяць,
Ня кленчаць,
Ня моляць.
Толькі ты
Зьберажэш Беларусь!
Толькі ты,
Беларуская моладзь!

A New Century. . .

by Nil Hilevič

A new century.
Skyline dawns bright.
'But for whom?'
Prophets blab in confusion.
Ours —
If you have enough might
And strength in you,
Young Belarusians!
This means
You must go, meet your fate
In strong faith
That long miles will not bruise you,
Do not lose,
Nor yield,
Nor abrogate
This great chance,
Young Belarusians!
Though dread phantom
On phantom may crowd —
Hero's strength
Does not yield to illusion.
The hour has struck:
Rise up,
Stand proud
In your ranks,
Young Belarusians!
I believe:
Night's black crawlers cannot
Your free spirit
Betray to confusion.
Rend apart,
Crush the knots
Of their coils,
Sweep them out,
Young Belarusians!
Know this:
Striving will freedom produce
Not pleas,
Kneeling,
Nor prayers in profusion,
Only you
Will defend Belarus!
Only you,
Young Belarusians!

Publication Date: 2002 & 2004.

Source Credits:

Both source books are part of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's "Бібліятэка Свабоды ХХІ стагодзьдзе" (Library of Liberty, 21st Century).

Belarusian language version: Верш на Свабоду (pub., 2002, pages 38,39).

Belarusian & English language versions: poems on liberty: reflections for Belarus (pub. , 2004, pages 286-89). English version translated by Vera Rich.

Return to the Nil Hilevič Web page Go to the A Belarus Miscellany Topic List Go to the top of section about Books Go to the Belarusian Writers Web page

Search the A Belarus Miscellany Web site