European Elegies/Winter/The song of grief

by Ivan Franko

51.THE SONG OF GRIEF

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My brothers, blame me not because I sing
A doleful song;
If I aggrieve you with my sorrowing,
Forgive the wrong!—

For when your transient joys and happiness
Have turned to dust,
And sorrows curse your midnights with distress,
As sorrows must,

Then, since grief's slavery is sung by me,
To seek relief
Your lonely lips will whisper wistfully
My song of grief.

From the Ukrainian of Ivan Franko.