Down the Niemans ice will flow.
Buds will burst in glee.
Wait for me, as long ago,
...
Despoiled and blood-drenched by the foe
You rise before my eyes.
Many a hundred miles I'll go
...
Spring summons the earth to a wedding
(But who will wed me?).
I hurry, on thin ice treading,
...
Sweet spring!
The lilac soon will burst in bloom.
The stream again strikes up a tune.
The southern breeze is flying high -
...
Toasting the sun,
See spring twirl
Flower-cups in the air.
Would I could wipe from your brow,-
...
You'll ride up, spring, one year,
Your bounty giving,
To find that I'm not here
...
My life is a windstorm, unleashed and unbounded,
It sweeps like a falcon expanses of field!
My life with the echoes of spring is resounding,
...
Let prophets curse, this world despising,
Until their bloodless lips turn blue!
My friendship – like the sun arising,
...
Our winters are hoary,
White on white wherever you look.
Long tales they tell us toddlers,
...
When after nights of frost the lilacs bloom
The nightingale can't help but burst out singing...
Though all around us smoking ruins loom
...
A time before I could be.
These lilacs bloomed.
Soon, again nothing of me.
They will bloom on.
...
Now who's been stepping through the rye?
Don't scold the cat. I'll tell you why.
It's my tow-headed little laddie
...
Dandelion, dandelion, flower miracle,
why do you lean on wind at the field's edge?
Where, where will you lay your white head down?
...
Mother, why is Earth so silent?
Silent day and night,
Not to sun or stars complaining
Of her grievous plight.
...
Nettle-bed tulips line...
Who shall say no?
Willow and birch entwined
By the spring grow.
...
Vilnele, run to Vilija!
And, Vilija, to Nemunas' shore!
Convey this message: 'We love life
But love our country even more!
...
You will waken in the deep of night...
Woodland winds will summon you to roam
And the birch will wave at its full height,
...
Salomėja Nėris (born Salomėja Bačinskaitė - Bučienė) (November 17, 1904 –July 7, 1945) - Lithuanian poetess. Nėris was born in Kiršai, in the current district of Vilkaviškis. She graduated from the University of Lithuania where she studied Lithuanian and German language and literature. After that she was a teacher in Lazdijai, Kaunas, and Panevėžys. Her first collection of poems, titled Anksti rytą (In the Early Morning), was published in 1927. In 1928, Nėris graduated from the University and was appointed to teach German language at the Seinų žiburys' Gymnasium in Lazdijai. Until 1931, Nėris contributed to nationalist and Roman Catholic publications. While studying German in Vienna, in 1929, Nėris met Lithuanian medical student Bronius Zubrickas and became attracted to him. Zubrickas had socialist views and Nėris engaged in socialist activities in order to court him. In 1931, Nėris moved to live in Kaunas, where she gave lessons and edited Lithuanian folk tales. In the second collection of Nėris's poetry, The Footprints in the Sand, there is evidence of the onset of a profound spiritual crisis. In the same year, verses containing revolutionary motifs were published in the pro-communist literary journal Trečias frontas (The Third Front). A promise to work for communism was also published. However, it was not written by her but by the chief ideological editor of Trečias frontas, Kostas Korsakas, and communist activist Valys Drazdauskas (Nėris was more interested in writing poetry than in declarations, politics and theories about art) . Salomėja Nėris was awarded the State Literature Prize in 1938.)
I'Ll Return
Down the Niemans ice will flow.
Buds will burst in glee.
Wait for me, as long ago,
By the apple-tree.
In the yellow fields of rye
Summer waves adieu.
Moonlit nights will fill the eye
With bright drops of dew.
Autumn winds again shall bite,
Strip the apple-tree.
In the dark and stormy night
Come and wait for me.
Frost will draw upon the pane
Tulips, camomiles.
Through the bitter winter's reign
Wait for me with smiles.
If as ever you love me
And love me alone,
These cold trenches here can be
Cosy as my home.
When I see you at my side,
Feel again your breath,
Shells and bullets I defy
And escape from death.
Don't take off your golden ring,
Don't cut short your plait,
I know not what fate may bring,
You, my love, must wait.
For the fallen they will mourn,
Flags half-mast will fly...
Don't believe them... I'll return:
I must live, not die.
Sticks will bud and start to grow,
Even stones will stir...
Wait for one as long ago,
Now and evermore.
I like many of her poems and translated few poems in Urdu language several years ago. Now translating further translating poems for my Urdu magazine 'Mahnama Insha ' 5-6 poems. Further