Evening Songs (1920)/53

by Vítězslav Hálek

LIII

 

“’Tis wrong for men to lack in song—”
In judgment God has spoken—
And then He sent a bard to men
And gave him this as token:

“Throughout thy life have thou no rest,
Thy bread with tears be eaten;
Know thou nought but hard suffering,
In all hopes be thou beaten!

“Though thy heart be rent to its blood—
View that blood to them clinging;
Though driven by them through all lands—
Love them—and keep on singing!”

That lot is common to us bards.
Men may have our songs chanted,
But with what had brought on our song—
None cares to get acquainted.