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Translation:Letter to an Unborn Child

From Wikisource
Letter to an Unborn Child (1942)
by Ivanka Škrabec Novak, translated from Slovenian by Wikisource

Written by Ivanka for her unborn child on 3 June 1942, a day before they were both murdered. Original title: Pismo nerojenemu otroku. Translation by Ihana Aneta

Ivanka Škrabec Novak4921572Letter to an Unborn Child1942Wikisource

Just a few more hours, and my life will be over. O God, O sorrowful Mother, my Mother, you know that I die innocent, as your Son died innocent...

O my child, my tender angel, how I would love to see the features of your face, the tiny pearls of your eyes. Never shall I see your blossoming smile, which would have made me happy– oh, my child— my tender flower!

Never shall I see your little white hands, never will you stretch them out to return to me a sweet embrace. Never shall I be able to press you to my heart, although you are so near it, never, my child! Somewhere there in the embrace of the forest, will be our home, adorned with spring flowers.

My lips will not be able to sing you songs by the cradle — I myself will be your cradle, though so cold and stiff — the branches above us will sing and murmur a loving lullaby. Oh, sleep peacefully, my child, for you are so close to my heart, which loves you so — and yet, though it loves you, it cannot tear you from the embrace of death, which awaits you as well. Just sleep peacefully, for you do not sense what is drawing near! You will die with me — and I, in thought with you. And then, when the troubles and the struggle are at an end, we shall come together to God…

When I first felt you... sensed beneath my heart your restlessness... I was already dreaming how I would first carry you into God’s presence, that baptismal water might wash over you — soon my blood will wash you — you will be baptized with the loving blood of your own mother...

I pictured how Christ, under the appearance of bread, would bend down to you for the first time... In vain! And yet: my body will soon be a sacrificial ciborium... and you, my child, a host within it... The Creator himself will take into his loving hands the host of your being and place it in his divine Heart... There, my child, I shall behold you for the first time, O my tender angel; there I shall see your face; there you will look upon your mother, and for the first time you will cry out to me: "Oh, Mama!"

Look, my child, morning is already drawing near. The first dawn beyond the mountains announces it... for us, the final morning of suffering. Morning will rise again — but without suffering and tears... rising in God. Sleep peacefully, for your mother keeps watch over you... Look, the red dawn already proclaims that day is awakening... and the last stars fade within it... The clock in the tower is already striking the morning... that will lead us on the last road... I shall not be alone... you will be with me, my child... and Mary — as back then with her Son on Calvary, will go with us... In the final, last breaths she will stand by us... and carry us into the everlastingly happy home. No one will ever disturb that happiness for us again... for we shall be immersed in the eternal God... in the eternal God's peace.

My child, just sleep... Mary is with us... Look... they are coming... they are coming...


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Original:

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was first published outside the United States (and not published in the U.S. within 30 days), and it was first published before 1989 without complying with U.S. copyright formalities (renewal and/or copyright notice) and it was in the public domain in its home country on the URAA date (January 1, 1996 for most countries).


The longest-living author of this work died in 1942, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 82 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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Translation:

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