Modern Czech Poetry/Spake my heart…
2. ŘEKLO MÉ SRDCE . . .
Reklo mé srdce vůli mojí:
Proč mučíš mne v stálém nepokoji?
Proč lámeš můj růst? Proč trháš můj list?
Proč v koruně ničíš píseň hnízd?
2. SPAKE MY HEART . . .
Spake my heart unto my will:
Why rackest thou me, that I ne'er am still?
Why snappest my growth? And my leafage wrest?
Why marrest the song in each topmost nest?
Chci sladký vzduch jarní v závrati jmout,
chci větve své k letu rozepnout,
chci vonět, chci vábit, chci šumět, chci kvést,
chci zlato slunce, chci stříbro hvězd.
Rekla má vůle srdci mému:
Dobře se děje zhýčkanému!
Léta jsi těkalo ze slasti v slast;
mne nebýt, neznáš trpět ni vlást.
Jsme zrozeni k činům, či zrozeni k snům?
Jsme voda a pára, či blesk a chlum?
Já paní, ty rab jsi, já ruka, ty věc,
mý rozkazům klaň se, jak větru svit svěc.
„Všemu na vzdory“ (1916).
I desire to clutch dizzily sweet breath of spring,
I desire unto summer my branches to fling,
I desire to be fragrant, to lure, rustle, flower,
I desire a sun-gold, a star-silver dower,
Spake my will unto my heart:
It betides thee well, pampered thing that thou art!
Yearlong from bliss to bliss didst thou stray;
But for me, thou wouldst know nor sorrow, nor sway.
Are we born for struggle, or born for dream?
Are we water and vapour, or hill-top and gleam?
I am mistress, thou'rt slave, hand am I, thing art thou,
At my bidding, as taper in tempest, to bow.
“In spite of all” (1916).
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
The longest-living author of this work died in 1970, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 53 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
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