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Arise From Out Our People, Native Seer

Janka Kupala
Source: Belarusian Review, Vol.3, pp. 56-58, Institute for the Study of the USSR, Augustenstrasse 46, Munich, Germany, 1956. Material contained herein may be reproduced, provided reference is made to this publication. Translated from Belarusian by Luba U. Terpak.
Arise from out our people, native seer,
Proclaim your burning, thunderous prophesies.
With wisdom witchcraft from our nation clear,
Which foes have cast on her for centuries.

Into one fold all Belarus unite,
From all take oaths and fealties sincere,
That never will they sell their land, their might!
Arise to break your country's chains, Oh, seer!
 

Arise from out our people, fluent bard,
Oh minstrel of all past and future reigns.
In raging lyrics tempest-like strike hard,
With winds roar to the sound of clanging chains!

Roar over all of Belarusian lands,
The hearts of drowsing men with fire bombard.
O'er burial mounds resound with thund'rous bands.
To rouse the sleeping dead, arise, Oh, bard!
 

Arise from out our people, shining knight,
And to the fray upon your fiery steed,
Your plundered people -- beggars without right,
Lead into fire in their homeland's great need!

The road to glory to your land reveal,
Sweep from her fertile fields all foreign blight.
On all her borders stand on guard with steel,
Arise to liberate your land, Oh, knight!
 

Arise from out our people, noble lord,
To reconstruct your desolate domain,
Your folk forget to whom they owe accord,
And who has robbed them of their own terrain!

All Belarus awaits its leader long,
Your kingdom waits for you as God's award.
And great it is, so beautiful and strong...
'Neath Belarusan flags appear, Oh, Lord!
 

1919

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