Translation:Angel Destroyer

For other versions of this work, see Anioł Niszczyciel.

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Angel Destroyer (1842)
by Roman Zmorski, translated from Polish by Wikisource

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Roman Zmorski „Anioł Niszczyciel” in: „Tygodnik Literacki”, issue 46, November 14, 1842; pp. 362-363; and „Anioł-Niszczyciel” in: „Jaskułka”, Warsaw 1843, pp. 78-81; „Przegląd Naukowy”, 1843, issue 22; R. Zmorski, „Poezje”, Leipzig 1866, pp. 117-119. Versions of this poem are slightly different.

Roman Zmorski2959910Angel Destroyer1842Wikisource

My breath not smell, ^[1]
Not stars me temple
               Encircled with a shining circle.
My breath sulfurous, – ^[2]
My wreath fiery, –
               And yet I am an angel!

Not angel, which flies,
Bland children in nappies
               Rocks with paradisiacal dreams;
Sows a love, an agreement,
Binds young hearts,
               And raises souls to heaven.

I am the angel destroyer,
I am the angel cleaner,
               I am avenger and the enemy the evil !
Me, when time comes,
Before the world will regenerate,
               God on the Earth sends.

I carry the sword in right,
The torch in the Left,
               In lightenings I fly round the world;
My name is: woe!
Death, horror, extermination
               Running in my footstep.^[3]

I will breathe in people's chest,
In chests the heat will wake up,
               And their whole hands will trickle down with blood:
And they will yell themselves,
And they will eat themselves,
               As wolves, when they go crazy with hunger.

I, where I will fly by,
I kindle torrential rain of sparks –
               By nothing unquenchable sparks!
Until they burn all,
And they will save only that, ^[4]
               Which so blue as they.

Meretricious children of the pride!
Safe in one's stupidity!
               Here your time came.
On the head your own
Marble castles to you
               Will collapse and they will bury you.

And soon new ruler,
Horror queen,
               Rubble of your capitals will sit down.
From among silence, grave
Owl mockingly from the ruins
               Will laugh at your power.

Hey people! I fly,
I kindle fire everywhere;
               Because in order to new crop take root,
To clean the field,
To destroy the tares
               Let the old ear die, unhealthy.

Do not curse, do not tremble,
Don't rip your heads off
               That will burn you field and lands;
For short fear, hunger,
You and your whole family,
               You will pick up the usury in the future.

Hey storms, you lightnings!
Hails, greedy gale!
               Further, follow me in the footsteps!...
Drain the fires and waters!
Plagues, wars, disagreements!
               Follow me on world!

I, angel destroyer!
I, angel demolisher!
               Angel saviour!...
                                               Roman Zmorski.

↑ Przyjemny zapach = fragrance, aroma, perfume, scent, przyjemny lub nieprzyjemny = smell, odour. The author writes ”woń” = „smell”, which can be both pleasant and unpleasant.
↑ Like in phrases: „sulfurous breath” or „sulfurous exhaltions”.
↑ If it weren't for the ambiguity: ”running me step by step” similarly to the phrase: ”following me step by step”.
↑ Or „And they will deliver only that,” because it seems a reference to: „Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God.” (Ezekiel 14:14).

[1] Przyjemny zapach = fragrance, aroma, perfume, scent, przyjemny lub nieprzyjemny = smell, odour. The author writes ”woń” = „smell”, which can be both pleasant and unpleasant.

[2] Like in phrases: „sulfurous breath” or „sulfurous exhaltions”.

[3] If it weren't for the ambiguity: ”running me step by step” similarly to the phrase: ”following me step by step”.

[4] Or „And they will deliver only that,” because it seems a reference to: „Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God.” (Ezekiel 14:14).

[1]

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