Modern Czech Poetry/On the hill-side
4. U STRŽE.
Tu místo nejmilejší lehnout v trávu,
a v strnulosti plaché přimknout zraky,
nemyslit na nic, netoužit, jen hlavu
v podušku trávy vtisknout … Jako vraky
rozlité obláčky se ponořují
za hory hřbet … A vše tě tady hýčká,
4. ON THE HILL-SIDE.
Here is the sweetest grass-plot for a bed,
In softest lethargy to close the eyes,
On naught to brood, nor yearn, but let the head
Droop in the grassy couch … Like wreckage flies
A huddled clot of clouds, that yonder soar
Behind the mountain's ridge .… All lulls thee here,
bzuk hmyzu, trávy, trsů, jež se vzdují,
let líných motýlů … Přes tvoje víčka
blesk jako z vod se nyní přehoup' jasně.
Klid neznámý to u tvé hlavy stojí.
Ty cítíš, jak se mrtvým dříme krásně,
neb země též má kolébavku svoji!
Insects adrone, grass, plant-stems bending o'er,
The flight of sluggish moths … To thee appear
Gleams as from waters, with a radiant leap.
And by thy head there stands a calm unknown.
Thou feel'st 'tis wondrous with the dead to sleep,
For Earth has cradle-ditties of her own!
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.
Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse