An Anthology of Czechoslovak Poetry/Slovak Poetry/Folk Poetry

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An Anthology of Czechoslovak Poetry (1929)

Folk poetry translated by Therese Albertine Luise Robinson and Ivan Kramoris

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4781054An Anthology of Czechoslovak Poetry — Folk poetry1929Therese Albertine Luise Robinson and Ivan Kramoris

FOLK POETRY

The circumstances that have retarded the material development of Slovakia have contributed materially to the development and preservation of its folk poetry, which is perhaps more living than is the folk poetry of Bohemia or Moravia.

SUN AND MOON

Ah! If but this evening Would come my lover sweet,With the bright, bright sun, Then the moon would meet.

Ah! Poor girl, this evening Comes not thy lover sweet;With the bright, bright sun The moon doth never meet.Translated by Talvj

NITRA, LOVELY NITRA

Nitra, lovely Nitra,Noble, lofty Nitra,There was a time you bloom’d;Oh, why have you been doom’d?

Look! I love no other,Thou, my Slovak mother;Behold and pity me;What tears I shed for thee!

You were the holy placeWhich saw Saint Method’s face;He brought here God’s own word,That all our people heard.

Now greed and worldly lustHave laid you in the dust;That is the law of change;To it the world must range.Translated by I. Kramoris